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REMARKS 



ON 



THE THEATRE, 



AND ON 



THE LATE FIRE 



ATP 



RICHMOND, IN VIRGINIA. 



-€f » A-iM.'^ ''<* 



Printed by Thomas Wilson and Sort, for iht Autlior / 

AND SOLD BY WILLIAM ALEXANDER, VOBK J ALSO BY DARTOK, 
MARVEY, ANDDARTON, GRACECHURCH-STREET, AND WILLIAM PHILLIPS, tONDONj 
AND BY M. M, AND E. WEBB, CASTER-STREET, BRISTOL, 

1812. 






€ntercD at fetationer«i' TptAl 



THE THEATRE, &c. 



^^ 



X HE considerations contained in these pages, 
are affectionately addressed to the candid 
perusal of professing Christians of all denomi- 
nations. They were partly occasioned by the 
circumstance related in the following Extract 
from an American paper : 

" A short time since a fire broke out in Rich- 
*' mond Theatre [Virginia]. The house being 
*' crowded with an unusual audience, there could 
" not be less than 600. — Just before the conclu- 
*^ sion of the play, the scenery caught fire, and, 
" in a few minutes, the whole was in flames. It 
*' is already ascertained that sixty-one persons 
" were devoured by that terrific element. The 
" scenery took fire in the back part of the house, 
*' by the raising of a chandelier. — The flames 

A 2! 



4f REMARKS ON 

*' spread like lightning; and the fire falling 
*' from the scenery upon the performers, was 
" the first notice which the audience had of 
" their danger. The performers and the assist- 
'' ants at the Theatre, in vain attempted to tear 
*' down the scenery ; for the fire flashed into 
" every part of the house. No tongue can 
'' describe the awful catastrophe ! No person, 
*' who \yas not present, can form an idea of such 
« a scene of human distress !— There was but one 
^' door for the greater part of the audience to 
'' pass 5 and there, men, women, and children, 
" were pressing upon each other, while the flames 
*•• were seizing those behind. Such as were 
'• nearest to the window, ignorant of their dan- 
*^ ger, were afraid to leap down ; whilst those 
'' behind were seen catching fire. One lady 
'^jumped out when all her clothes were in 
" flames. — Fathers and mothers were seen de- 
'' ploring the loss of their children. All those 
^' who were in the pit escaped, and had cleared 
" themselves from the house before those in the 
'^ boxes could get down. In addition to the 
*^' list now given, it is believed that, at least, 
*' sixty others peri;shed." 



THE THEAtaS. -5 

The interest which the preceding statement 
must have excited in the pubHc mind, renders 
the present a fit opportunity^ in the view of 
the author of these considerations, for making 
some remarks on the practice of attending 
theatrical amusements. Such an address has 
long been felt as a debt of gospel love, due to 
those p''ofessors of Christianity who do not dis- 
courage the practice, either in a private or 
more collective capacity. As divers persons, 
eminent for their rank and piety, have given 
their decided opinion on the injurious tendency 
of stage entertainrtients, and fully proved their 
inconsistency with the purity of the gospel, 
this little work will be confined chiefly to cir- 
cumstances, and the reflections which they 
have produced. 

Before entering at large into a view of the 
subject. Jet us consider the awful catastrophe 
above recited, and see if that does not involve 
in itself some hints of sufficient importance, to 
be deeply pondered by every individual of the 
above description ; more especially as an emi- 
nent Apostle has left us the salutary injunction, 
*' Let every one that nameth the name of Christ 

A3 



t> IlEMARKS ON 

ilepart from iniquity." We will first imagine 
that a few persons, who never before entered 
the doors of a pkvy-house, were convened at 
Richmond, and there took a view of the scene 
exhibited, previously to the dreadful conflagra- 
tion. What would be their secret exclama- 
tion ? — See here an exhibition of beauty and 
fashion, such as our eyes never witnessed ! Mark 
the giddy countenance and the brilliant eye of 
every spectator, as well as the strange, and to 
us, unaccountable gestures of the gay performers 
of this festive scene ! Surely from this place of 
amusement, sorrow and gloom must be banish- 
ed for ever ! 

In a little while, however, these enraptured 
beholders begin to give way to a different train 
of reflections. They first query within them- 
selves, Can this gay company be composed only 
of professing Christians ? Have those who are 
now acting their ludicrous part on the stage, 
and those who are entertained at the expense 
of their time and talents, been baptized in the 
name of Jesus? Have they vowed, or has it been 
promised for them, that they should "renounce 
the devil and all his works, the vain pomps and 



THE THEATRE. *7 

glory of this world, with all covetous desires of 
the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so 
that they will not follow nor be led by them?" — 
Here they pause; when, all in an instant, a 
flame like a flash of lightning bursts from the 
scenery! — the performers are all in ablaze! — 
the doors and windows are set open, and while 
those in the pit press out with the utmost impe- 
tuosity, the air rushes in and serves as a fan to 
the flames, which now seize those in the galleries 1 
All is horror and confusion ! This scene exceeds 
€ven that of the " battle of the warrior," which 
is said to be " with confused noise, and garments 
rolled in blood ;'* for whilst this part was ex- 
hibited by the shrieks and pressure of the 
affrighted crowd, the effect was indeed awfully 
heightened '^ with burning and fuel of fire;" 
the light and airy dresses of those who a iew 
minutes before were pronounced a happy company 
increasing the fury of the flames ! 

In the course perhaps of half an hour, during 
which nothing we can imagine or express, 
can equal the real distress and anguish of the 
unhappy victims, their bodily sufferings termi- 
nate. Many are reduced to ashes, and many 

A4 



9 REMARKS ON 

others are left in a state the most repugnant to 
every feehng of humanity. In short, iipwards of 
a hundred of this brilliant assembly, by an 
untimely and premature death, are forced from 
this state of existence. But is this the end of 
the fatal catastrophe? Do we, professing Christi- 
ans, believe that we cease to exist, the moment 
we quit this state of probation ? If we have 
drawn no such conclusion, and no such can we 
draw from any doctrines of the gospel, which, 
clearer than any other, point out an hereafter ; 
let us accompany the departed spirits to that 
awful tribunal, 

*' Where no prevarication can prevail, 
"Where artifice and sophistry must fail.*' 

Let US hear '' the Judge of quick and dead'' 
pronounce the solemn interrogation of Whence 
comest thou ? to each of these objects (for such 
they are) of our tenderest pity and commisera- 
tion. 

What do they answer? — are they all silent? 
Suppose he proceeds in the interrogation : — Did 
my messenger of death, which seized upon you 
at so unexpected a moment, fmd you engaged 



THE THEATRE. 9 

in any religious avocation? — No! — Did lie arrest 
you while occupied in any laudable employ- 
ixient ? — -No ! — Were you even enjoying any 
innocent amusement, or reposing yourselves in 
the bosom of your families ?-— No '.—Let these 
awful inquiries suffice to awaken the con- 
sciences of those, who have felt themselves secure 
within the walls of a play-house. We know 
that the " Judge of all the earth will do right," 
both with respect to these unhappy sufferers^ 
and to us individually ; and so far from wishing 
to exaggerate their peculiar situation, we would 
remind all those who are in the same practices, 
of the remark of our blessed Redeemer : " Think 
ye that they on whom the tower of Siloam fell, 
were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusa* 
lem ? I tell you 7iai/ ; but except j/e rep€?it, ye 
shall all likewise perish/' 

Should these pages ever cross the Atlantic, 
and meet the eye of any of those who witnessed 
this awful visitation, may such, in particular, be 
thereby induced to take warning, and to attend 
to the prophetic exhortation of '' Seek ye the 
Lord, while he may be found ; call ye upon him, 
while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his 



10 REMARKS ON 

ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts ; 
and let hitn return unto the Lord, and he will 
have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he 
will abundantly pardon." 

It is well known by travellers, that the town 
of Richmond, and many others in the Southern 
States of America, are notorious for tlieir traffic 
in negroes; and that great numbers of them, if 
not lately liberated, are still held in oppression, 
and, may we not venture to add, cruel bondage.* 

It was from this cause, that, a few years age, 
a general insurrection was raised among them 
for the purpose of destroying all the males of 
the white inhabitants, except those of the 
Society of Friends, who by their rules could not 
keep slaves. This dreadful plan was on the 
point of being effected, when an unusual flood 
raised the river separating the towns of Rich- 
mond and Alanchestcr, to such a height, that 
the negroes of each, who were united in the 
plot, could not meet to effect their purpose. 
It is said, that " one black man wl;o had a kind 
master'* made the discovery the preceding even- 

»'■' See remaiks !n SutclKT'^ TraveU in North America; page 95.— 
rt-intcd 1811, 



THE THEATRE. tt 

ing, lest his kind master should also be massacred. 
But what was the result of this providential 
deliverance ? Was this degraded race of human 
beings released from their bondage in conse- 
quence ?— or were they not, like the poor en- 
slaved Israelites, made to endure greater suffer- 
ings ? Let the inhabitants of Richmond make 
this inquiry in their own consciences. If they 
can believe the scripture declaration, that '^ for 
the oppression of the poor, for the sighing 
of the needy, the Lord will arise, and will set 
him in safety from him that puffeth at him," 
let them now " break off their sins by righteous- 
ness, and their iniquities by showing mercy 
to the poor -,'' for HE who is omnipotent will, 
sooner or later, rise up in judgment and plead 
the cause of his oppressed. 

Since the above was written, the following 
paragraph has appeared in a weekly paper, 
which affords some satisfaction, viz. 

" The late dreadful conflagration of the 
" Theatre at Riclimond in Virginia, appears to 
" have had a suitable effect on the inhabitants 
" of that city, who have determined to build a 
^^ church on the spot." 



12 REMARKS ON 

We will now leave the scenes Which have 
been exhibited across the Atlantic, and turn our 
attention to those at home. Let us not forget, 
that a few years ago our present afflicted 
Sovereign was on the point of losing his life 
within the walls of a play-house. Flad he 
fallen a sacrifice to the assassin, would not the 
sorrows of his family, and the mourning of 
his people, have been rendered more poignant 
and bitter by these awful reflections? — Our fa- 
ther and our king died neither at the post of 
honour, nor when engaged in fulfilling any of 
his domestic or royal functions. He had no 
occasion to expose a life of so much value to 
his family and his people, to the caprice of such 
a mixed multitude, amongst whom the basest 
of men, are frequently assembled with the rulers 
of the nation. But we wmII draw a veil over 
the most solemn part of this gloomy picture, 
and only inquire further what was the effect of 
this merciful preservation upon those who were 
the most nearly interested in his safety ? There 
was indeed a form of thanksgiving directed to 
be made use of on the occasion, but did those 
who adopted it really humble themselves in the 



THE THEATRK. 13 

presence of Him, " before whom tlie nations 
are as the drop of a bucket, and are counted as 
the small dust of the balance, and who taketh 
up the isles as a yery little thing ? '* or did any 
of them withdraw from the theatre in conse- 
quence ? If no such effect w^as produced by 
that interposition of Providence, may the pre- 
sent incurable malarly of the Monarch of these 
realms, and the long forbearance of God to us 
as a nation yet laden with iniquity, though some 
crying sins are abandoned,* lead us to sincere 
and timely repentance. Should this humble 
performance, designed to rouse the feelings of 
its readers to their own real interest, ever be 
whispered in the ears of royalty, may the Prince 
Regent, now just ascending the throne of Great 
Britain, be induced wisely to " ponder the path 
of his feet, that so his ways may be established ;" 
remembering the declaration from the same 
high authority, even the wise king Solomon, 
that *' when a man's ways please the Lord, he 
maketh even his enemies to be at peace with 
him.'* 



* In particular that of the slave trade. 



14 REMARKS ON 

Is not the present a most convenient season 
for him to set the noble example of discouraging 
these scenes of dissipation, which are as much 
below the dignity of the royal character, as they 
are incompatible with that of a Christian? Since 
the king on his throne and the meanest of his 
subjects, are equally the objects of infinite jus- 
tice and mercy, as accountable beings, would 
it not be well for the same august character, 
to consider his awful responsibility ? He is a 
father as well as a sovereign ; and is it not 
deplorable, that, at so early an age, the young 
princess should be introduced to these scenes 
of vanity, and her mind be contaminated by ex- 
amples and precepts, directly opposed to those 
doctrines which she is professedly taught ? 

** The time is short and swift of wing. 
Though we raay deem it slow," 

That will bring us to the solemn period in which 
each of us will have to give an account of the 
deeds done in the body, and of those gifts, 
whether spiritual or temporal, which have been 
committed to our care. If that self-denial, and 
the '' abstaining from all appearance of evil,'* so 
strongly enjoined by the precepts of the gospel. 



THE THEATRE. 15 

were so far practised by all the royal family, 
under their present affliction, as to induce them 
to withdraw their presence from the theatre, it 
would doubtless prove an acceptable oblation 
to Him by whom " actions are weighed ;" and 
might be one means of causing the prayers 
offered on behalf of the Royal Sufferer, to come 
before his throne " as incense, and the lifting qp 
of their hands as the evening sacrifice.*' 

Other circumstances have also occurred even 
within our borders, which ought not to sink in 
oblivion. Notwithstanding the almost impious 
prologue spoken at the opening of Co vent- 
Garden Theatre, by which it seemed as if the 
means Providence makes use of for the hu- 
miliation of his creatures were held at defiance, 
we find the two principal theatres were burnt 
down so lately as the years 1808 and 1809.* 
Twenty-three lives were lost at Covent-Garden 
and one at Drury-Lane, though these were 
few, very few, compared with the numbers who 



* la addition to the two already mentioned, the Opera-house, 
Haymarket, opened 1704, was burnt 1789. Pantheon, Oxford-street, 
opened 1772, converted into a Theatre 1784, burnt 1792. Astley's 
Amphitheatre burnt 1794. Koyal Circus burnt 1805. 



16 REMARKS ON 

might have been sacrificed, had these events 
occurred when the houses were occupied. It 
is also well known that scarcely any seasons 
pass over without several, who have each a soul 
to be saved or lost, falling victims to this love 
of pleasure, either by some fatal accident, or 
by being crushed to death through the pressure 
of the crowd, in a full audience, or in cases of 
alarm. Of the latter there have been numerous 
melancholy instances. 

We of the united kingdom, cannot, at the 
present time, make any plea of our ignorance. 
We have not only been favoured with the scrip- 
tures of truth in our own language for several 
centuries, which we are told '^ are profitable for 
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruc- 
tion in righteousness -, that the man of God 
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto 
all good works i" but we are, at the present 
time, nobly engaged in spreading them through 
remote regions. Are we not then loudly called 
upon to praclise those precepts which we are 
handing to surrounding nations? We are, most 
certainly ; and should do well in exercising a 
similar care to that expressed by an eminent 



THE THEATRE. 17 

Apostle, when he said, " I keep under my body, 
^nd bring it into subjection, lest that by any 
means, when I have preached to others, I 
myself should be a cast-away." 

There is another circumstance which seems 
worthy of our serious consideration. We see 
by the interesting publications of Dr. Buchanan, 
that the eastern empire is still sunk in idolatry. 
Do we not read with peculiar interest, and yet 
with the feelings of horror, of the hundreds 
who yearly immolate themselves on the funeral 
piles of their husbands; and of the thousands 
who pay their adoration, and many of them 
fall victims, to the Idol of Juggernaut } What 
are we doing to remedy these evils ? — We are 
contributing to furnish them with the light of 
revelation, as far as contained in the Scriptures, 
translated into their own languages. This is, 
doubtless, praise- worthy. But when these 
poor benighted creatures, have their eyes open- 
ed to see for themselves into the excellency of 
the Gospel dispensation, and the purity of its 
precepts, will they not naturally inquire into 
the lives and practices of those from whom 
they receive this bounty ,? Will they not expect 

B 



IS REJVIARKS ON 

that such should conform to the rules laid down 
ill that sacred volume, which they have had 
in possession for so many centuries ? What 
then must be their surprise to find this very 
people, while they are holding sacred the divine 
commandment, '' Thou shalt have no other 
Gods before me," so far as to make no graven 
images and fall down to worship them, are yet, 
at the same time, assembling in multitudes at 
the temples of vanity, (the softest name we can 
give our play-houses,) and there devoting, night 
after night, to the idol of fashion, though at 
the risk of being immolated by some fatal ac- 
cident, or crushed to death by a hasty re- 
treat. 

The Apostle of the gentiles before alluded 
to, has also declared, that the *' times of their 
ignorance God winked at; but ?iozo command- 
eth all men, every where, to repent/' If this 
be true, may we not conclude, thait, in the day 
of awful retribution, the idolaters of the east 
will have a stron^xcr claim to mercv for their 
sins of ignorance, than we professing Christians 
for our numerous vices, from HIM who " is 
righteous in all his ways," and who, therefore, 



THE THEATRE. l& 

as we are told by a justly admired poet, in his 
*^ Expostulation/* 

" Will not punish, in one mingled crowd. 
Them without light, and us without a cloud." 

The example of the highest classes in so- 
ciety, influences not only the middle, but 
the lowest rank ; and it is a fact, that many 
who, from the pressure of the times, can scarcely 
maintain their families, and even such as are 
in the station of servants, spend part of their 
little store in tickets for the play-house ; though 
the latter are sometimes furnished with them 
as presents, by those whose example and pre- 
cepts ought to have a very different tendency. 
From the preceding considerations, and the 
importance of their station and influence, may 
the nobility of this realm set the virtuous exam* 
pie, of withdrawing their presence and support 
from scenes so unworthy of their rank and 
character. 

On this occasion we may venture to apply 
the sentiments of the Honourable Secretary 
Hughes, when he was encouraging the different 
classes of people to unite in the support of an 

B2 



20 REMARKS ON 

auxiliary Bible Society at Cambridge. '' By 
these means," says he, ** noble Lords may 
indeed add lustre to their coronets. Gentle- 
men of wide influence, may also consult the 
temporal and eternal interest of all around 
them. Ministers of the Sanctuary" — but here 
we pause, and inquire if Ministers of the Sanctu- 
ary could ever so demean their noble calling, 
as to be seen within the polhUed w\alls of a 
play-house ? To proceed, however, with tlje 
worthy Secretary's address, " Ministers of the 
Sanctuary may, by their utmost exertions and 
influence, stand forward iu' a manner worthy 
of their holy vocation. Instructers and guardi- 
ans of British youth" (how important their 
station !) " may embody their precepts by their 
own powerful example : and you, ingenuous 
youth, just starting in the course which Provi- 
dence opens before you," permit the writer of 
these Remarks to unite in an earnest desire, that 
" you may all be regulated by the principles, 
and so have an interest in the promises of that 
volume, the contents of which you, and so 
many of your seniors, have manifested so lauda- 
ble a desire to make known, from north to south, 



THE THEATRE. 21 

and from the rising of the sun to the going 
down thereof" 

In this sacred vokime, it is recorded, by one 
who had both felt tlie terrors of the Lord for 
disobedience, and had tasted largely of his good- 
ness, that '^ they who observe lying vanities, 
forsake their own mercies.'* Perhaps a more 
appropriate title could not easily be found for 
stage entertainments, than the term, '' lyin^ 
vanities,'' Do they not, (we now appeal to 
the consciences of those who have been en- 
deavouring to derive satisfaction from these 
corrupt sources,) do they not promise what 
they fail to afford you ? and after spending at 
the theatre great part of the night, which the 
Author of Nature designed for rest and re- 
freshment, have you not often lain down in 
sorrow, and found the termination of the gay 
scene you witnessed to be not only vanity, but 
even "vexation of spirit?" If this has really . 
been your experience, let the past time suffice. 
Much depends, (the blessings of eternity may 
depend,) on the choice you are making now, 
when just rising on the stage of action; "choose 
life, therefore, that your souls may live ;" and 

B3 



22 REMARKS ON 

by the unreserved sacrifice of inclination to 
duty, prove yourselves the followers of Him, 
%vho *^ for the joy that was set before him, en- 
dured the cross, despising the shame, and is 
set down at the right-hand of the throne of 
God." 

Let us now take a view of some of the objec- 
tions that will doubtless be made to the relin- 
quishing of these public amusements. Perhaps 
one will arise from the consideration of what 
will become of the numerous performers, many 
of whom have no other means of procuring 
a livelihood. Those who would avail themselves 
of this charitable question, as an excuse for con- 
tinuing in such corrupt practices, may be answer- 
ed in the laconic expression of our divine 
Master: ''What is that to thee? follow thou 
me.*' But lest this short answer should not 
be deemed satisfactory, we will suggest the 
expedient of a subscription being raised and 
appropriated to the needful support of this 
degraded class of society, till they are furnished 
with the means of providing '* things honest 
in the sight of all men" for themselves, and 



THE THEATRE. 23 

their families. What is expended on theatrical 
amusenients, in the course of one season, would, 
doubtless, amply provide for this purpose^ and 
might enable those who have frequented the 
theatre, and perhaps devoted a great part of 
their time and their substance in promoting 
the cause of vice and irreligion, to make some 
compensation, by applying them in future to 
acts of benevolence, and for the promotion of 
piety and virtue; 

The writer of these hints, views the class of 
stage-players with sincere commiseration. Is 
it not lamentable, that persons endowed with 
superior talents, which, if properly applied, 
might render essential service to civil or religi- 
ous society, should prostitute them to the 
meanest of purposes ? — purposes which, at best, 
remind us of the following description of the 
poet : 

" A soul immortal spending all her firer. 
Wasting her strength in strenuous idleness. 
Thrown into tumult, raptured or alarm'd, 
[For] ought this 5cene can threaten or indulge. 
Resembles ocean into tempest wrought. 
To waft a feather, or to drown a fly." 

YCUNG. 

B 4 



2'*, REMARKS ON 

Do those who encourage theatrical per- 
formers, or do the performers themselves properly 
consider, that time and talents are loans from 
Heaven, for which we shall find ourselves respon- 
sible whenever the awful mandate is uttered, 
*^ Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou 
shalt be no longer steward?" Looking towards 
these our fellow-probationers, in this point of view, 
they are certainly objects of Christian compas- 
sion. In addition to the contributions proposed, 
and v/hich, were they from conscientious motives 
to relinquish their mercenary employment, 
would doubtless be aided by that body of real 
Christians, which has long secretly mourned 
under the weight of these crying evils, we 
would strongly recommend the performers to 
adopt the prayer of Agur, '' Rem,ove far from 
me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty 
nor riches; feed me with food convenient for 
me, lest I be full and deny thee, and say, who 
is the Lord ? or lest I be poor and steal, and 
take the name of my God in vain." 

There is another question which may pos- 
sibly be proposed by some charitable people : 
What will become of all those volumes of 



THE THEATRE. ^5 

plays and romances, tragedies and comedies, 
which have cost so much labour and expense 
in preparing, were these scenes to be totally 
abandoned? That so much time, so much la- 
bour, and so much expense should be bestowed 
to so bad a purpose, is certainly much to be 
regretted ; but since they are found, by the 
experience of ages, to have answered no salutary 
purposes ; since, at best, they have only amused 
the ear while they secretly corrupted the heart of 
their greatest admirers, we can only recom- 
mend to all who have them in possession, to 
make the same offering to the cause of Christi- 
anity, which those did of whom we hav^e it re- 
corded in the acts of the Apostles, " many 
also, who used curious arts, brought their books 
together, and burnt them before all men ; and 
they counted the price of them, and found it 
fifty thousand pieces of silver." We may 
venture to add, if this offering be made in a 
Christian spirit, it will indeed be *' an odour 
of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well- 
pleasing to God." 

A further consideration may also be suggest- 
ed by some well-meaning people, and that if>. 



2S tlEMA^KS ON 

What use must the fashionable world make of 
their time, if all these amusements are taken 
from them ? — Has, then, the great Author of 
Nature, lavished no beauties, no wonders on 
his manifold works, from the survey and con- 
templation of which, a rational being can 
derive unfailing sources of instructive amuse- 
ment ? Do not many of the arts and sciences 
afford people of leisure a fund of rational and 
pleasing employment ? The study of natural 
and civil history, of useful biography, of na- 
tural philosophy, chymistry, &c. would fur- 
nish most abundant sources of entertainment 3 
that of astronomy in particular, which has a 
tendency to elevate the mind, if not too much 
depraved or degraded above mere corporeal 
pleasures. The study of botany would open a 
wide field of healthy recreation; and the illustra- 
tion of it by the pencil, might furnish a more 
useful and laudable, and we are certain, more 
innocent amusement, than plays, gaming, balls, 
routs, eard-parties, and other fashionable modes 
of '^ killing time." The more gross exhibitions, 
such as wrestling, racing, cock-fighting, pugil- 
ism, kc. kc. as the Apostle said of some vices 



THE THEATRE. 27 

in his day, " ought not even to be named 
amongst Christians i" and the toleration of them, 
in this enhghtened age, is certainly a disgrace 
to the united kingdom ; for righteousness tru- 
ly " exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to 
any people :** and if, as the Scripture assures 
lis, " all unrighteousness is sin,'* what must 
we think of the vices here enumerated 1 

There is one way, however, of filling up 
time, without " killing'^ it, which we would par- 
ticularly recommend, not only to the young 
and the gay, but to the fashionable world of all 
ages and descriptions -, that is, the daili) pe- 
rusal of the holy Scriptures, and such other 
writings as will really promote the interests 
of piety and virtue. Amidst the blessings of 
the present day, we may number those of the 
last denomination, which, like wheat sown 
among tares, will, in due time, we trust, be 
separated from them, and produce a plentiful 
harvest. 

We wish, however, to add a little more 
respecting the perusal of the Scriptures, pas- 
sages from which being early impressed on the 



28 REMARKS ON 

memoiy, would be attended with peculiar ad- 
vantages, since it may justly be said of them, 
even in times of solitude or sickness, as of the 
Divine Author of the Gospel dispensation, 

''The recollection, like a vein of ore. 
The farther traced, enriches still the more. 



COWPER. 



Many quotations fjom these invaluable re- 
cords have already appeared, and some may 
yet be given in this little work. The author 
omits the references to them, as a stimulus 
to the reader to imitate the example of the 
Jews of Berea, whom Paul speaks of, as 
" being more noble than those of Thessalo- 
nica, in that they received the word with 
all readiness of mind, and searched the Scrip- 
tures daihj, whether those things were so." By 
this search it would be found, that even the 
Psalmist, who was also a king over a numerous 
people, held the works of nature, and of Pro- 
vidence, in the highest esteem, and thought 
them fit subjects of devout contemplation. Af- 
ter speaking of the natural productions of the 
earth and of the seas, he makes this pioMs 



THE THKATRR. 29 

exclamation : " O Lord 1 how manifold are 
thy works, in wisdom hast thou made them 
all ! the earth is full of thy riches ; so is this 
crreat and wide? sea, wherein are things creep- 
ino- innumerable, both small and great beasts." 
And again, on a view of the firmament, " When 
I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, 
the moon and the stars which thou hast ordain- 
ed : what is man, that thou art mindful of him > 
or the son of man, that thou visitest him !" 

In these sacred records, the great enemy of our 
happiness, is represented under two very striking 
similitudes ; sometimes by that of' a roaring lion, 
seeking whom he may devour ;'' but more often, 
as a cunning *' serpent," seeking, by various ar- 
tifices, whom he may betray. By a work already 
alluded to, we find that one o-f his diabohcal en- 
gines, an inquisition, is still existing in Brituh 
India. Another is also left in Spanish America. 
These seem to be nearly the last remains of those 
instruments of torture, by which, in a pre- 
eminent degree, our grand adversary showed him- 
self in the character of " a roaring Hon, seek^ 
ing whom he might devour." But when we 



30 remar;cs on 

take into consideration, the superior excellency 
and value of that part in us which is immor- 
tal, and compare it with that which is corpo- 
real, we shall be induced to believe, that his 
malice and cruelty, exhibited by the inquisi- 
tion, are even exceeded by his artifice in 
erecting play-houses; and that the latter as 
clearly manifests his second character, repre- 
sented by the craftiness of a " serpent,'* seek- 
ing whom he might betray. 

Yet amidst all the scenes of horror and of 
iniquity, even now transacting on the grand 
theatre of the universe, we may take comfort. 
The signs of the times are auspicious. The 
downfall of superstition, like the removal of 
old decayed buildings, is making way for the 
noble erection of the standard of Truth. The 
destruction of inquisitions, and other places 
of cruelty, shows that the rage of our com- 
mon enemy is limited, and that these are 
ceasing, for ever, to be the terror of mankind. 
We trust that thousands who, like Gallic, " have 
cared for none of these things,'* will, ere long, 
rejoice in their claim to the dignified character 



of a re 

all 

pe 

sys 
with tl 



dX 



\ 



i^ oxistmg in 



} these haunts 

Crated, like the 

ed structure of 



tion of all the pi 
the realms of Christ 
of vice and dissipation o 
ground on which stood the 
Richmond, to the salutary purposes of adora- 
tion and worship of the sovereign Lord of the 
universe ; for whose continued goodness to us 
as a nation, while those around us are involved 
in the most grievous calamities, we have cause 
for the reverent acknowledgment;, " It is of 
thy mercies, O Lord ! that we are not 
consumed, because thy compassions fail not. 
They are new every morning, great is thy 
faithfulness.^' 



That 



'vations, 
' of 



. o .. xt. 

For we ha out it out, 

In ample ri reliance. 

Whose stie;" .agration at defiance ; 

r 

Consume th ., your safety still is certain. 

Presto — for proof, let down the iron curtain." 



THE END. 



From the Office of 

THOMAS WILSON and SOS, 

H^gh Ousegate, Vorlt. 



Page Lii^e 

15. 13.&14 

32. 3. 



. for Cogent-Garden, read D/ 
for Ditto, read 



kJk J^ 



^ 



A 



COLLECTION 



oy 



^ 

^ 



RELATIVE TO THB 



nrn 






WliJCH OCCURRED AT 



Til fi Til EAT RE. 



% F^cTs A.ri) si\rrE,ME.rT3, ^ 



^ 






IN RICIir^IOKD, 



O.'i f/j2 26//i December, 1811, 



|r 



PRIXTKD AND IViiLiSUEl} BY Jen?f o'iYNCH. 



l^iiJ. 






■^^' "^pr 



^ 






V 



%o tDe labile. 




The imliappy event which occurred in our derofed ci- 
ty, has excited the tenderesi and the severest feelings of 
which our nature is susceptible. It is, doubtless, expect- 
ed thai some one ghouUI endeavor to satisfy tlic eager ex- 
pectiition of curiosity; — to dry the tear that bedews the 
pillow of sensibility, other resource must l)e had. So 
far as a compilation goes, we use our feeble efforts : far- 
ther we dare not, we would not venture. As tne servants 
of the public, we have collected this tribute, and utierit 
with the most respectfiii regard. 






f^)^ 



/ 



r 






ctto!)elming CaUmttp* 



I 



.Jl N tlic wliolccnurfe ©four exi/lenre, we hare rrvcr taken wp our p<U 
imdfcr a deeper gloom rtiiH we icci . t rii.s n ci. triu It .ail •(. ouriot 
to record one ot tlie moil diltietling scenes which can iuippen jn th^ 
^■vho:c ciicie ci iiuman attaus. Tiie readei iriultex(Uie i.c inche- 
rtrpce ot t ic narative ; ihtie !s ■^carcir b dry eye in tuis cu>tra''.ted city, 
Wetp, my feilow citizens j for wc have setn a nignt oi v\(;e, whii.b 
fcaice any eye h.ith iccn, or car hath htard; and no tongu^ can ade- 
qu ttiy tell 

How can we delcribe the cene ? No pen can p:unt it j no imagl- 
r.ation can conceive it. A vhcir- Theatre wrapt in tiames-.-a gay and 
animated ::flemhl) iudcenly tbr(/wn on the vejy veigeoi the giave--many 
otthewijoh! howliiany, piecipit .teti in a moment nro ettrn.ty -youth 
^.nd beau'.y, and O'd age and ^mius, ovei whelmed in one pio'iiiicuou* 
rum-— — fill leks, gioins rnd hun ai ; gony in i very Ihape— — fhis is 
the heart-It nd;ng cene rliat vvc are calieu upon to . escribe VVe Jink 
imdrr tnettfo't. kcadcr ! txtiiie oui iecilng^, loi- th»y are the teel- 
ings <i a whole city. 

Let us cchect «.iir ideas a? nell rs we can. On Tir.iriday night a 
new play and a new aite; piece weie played foi the len.tit oi iVlj. l*]^. 
cide. C lc\^■ds iwarnied to iht The.'; it w.;s ihe u left h uie this 

lealoii— — theie weie not Icsthai 600 pielcnt, ) he p.;'y went otF- • 
the pamon-irne he^r.p : the firft 'ict w.s over. 1 he wiioij- jcene wa« 

before tiv and all ciround us was mutn and ivhi/ ry Oh God t 

tiyhat a hoinble involution t'id one minute. prodU(e ! Thecurtain roi'e- 
or tie id act cl the panK min c-tl.t crclitltra w.s in ii;ll cS'.oi us j and 
"M) V\ tfl came (ii to optn the icenc ; when lpalkso^nle Degan to 
fail on the hack part oJ tiic (t igc, nd r. k<r tr'.un c nne out in un- 
*tLtjabie tiiihtis, wavfcii his hand i« the c«i!jnj, and uttered tlieitr. 



sppxIFnf vrcrcis— —" The hou^e Is on fire/' H'« honrl was immiiU 
atciy flittihed ioith to the perxons in tne O:.ge-ho;i. m heip thun on th^ 
i{?.gc • - and aid theii retreat in that direction. This is all mat we 

eaughr oj 'he /lage t-jie cry oi fire, fire^ p.ifll-d with electric \t ocity 

through the houle- --every one flew ironi their leats to gain the o -bie* 
Aiid ll .irs. 

The fcene haffle* all defci iptlon. The moft heart piercng cries 
pervadru the hou.e. **S.!Vc me, invemt!"' Wives asking ior their 
liuft>..nds, teinaies and childicn shrieking j while the gatiuring eiemtnt 
came roilirg on its curling flr^.^ies .ind columns o. Ih.ukc threaten- 
ing to devour every human being in the building. M nv were trod 

tijider toot Icveral were thrown back trom the win' o.as which they 

^ere Ihuggling to leap. The Itair w,iy> were in^n.eoiatsiy l-»locktd up ; 
the throng was so great thai mnny were raiica Itveral fee; over the 
heads of the reft-- the Imokc thnatened an infiant .uffu<.aticij. We 
<ann()i dwell on this picture. We saw-—— wc feit it— —like other?, 
ive gave up ourlelves lor ioit-— we cannot depict it„ M'»v II ped 
fro-n thewindtwsor rhe first storvi and were saved— — c . i tn c.nd 
females and men of ail descriptions were seen to piecipitate ti^emseives 
on t!ie ground iiclow— — -'noli: of these escapcdj though several oi them 
r/iih broken iegsj and tii'ghs, and hideous coniusions. Mcft it not 
B'l who were in tl.e pit efcaped. Mr. Ta\K;r, the 1 It of the n uhcians. 
^lio quitted the ochcftr j hnding Ims retreat bv the back way cut off, 
leapt into the pit whtiice lie entered the bemicircular avenue which Ic. is 
to tlie door or the theatic, : nd fcuncl it ntaiiy empty. Hen, .s the 
Jasi' ihnt elcapcd fro)n the pit ! how mel nclioJy ;hatm.inv tvho were 
in ti-e boxes did not alio jump into the pit :i'nd fly in tie laine direction. 

But tnoie who weie in the I oxes, above ana below, puthed ior the 
lobb'cs—many, as has been said, escaped through the windows but 
the n:c fr ot tbeir< hid noothei- resource thr.n to desitend the stairs, many 
esc-.j/td in that way---but so gteat was the picssure that they letanled 
each oihcrj until the devouring clement approached to sweep thtni into 
eterniry. Several who even tnierged trom the biii d.ng were so much 
scorched that they have since perimec^- some evtn jumped trom tne se- 
cond window-- some otlie. s ha' e been dreacitully burnt. 

The hretlewwitha lapidity, almolt beyond txMupIe. Within teu 
minutes alter it caught, the who.e houfe wus wrapt in h;rn)cs.---'l he co- 
loured people in the gallery, melt Oi them, e'caped thio' theft.iMsCdt 
otfijom the rett of the home : lome have no doubt fallen victims. The pit 
and boxes had but one common avenue---thro* which the whole cr< wd 
had to escape, fave thoie only who leaped through the windows. 

Hut the icene which enlued— — it is impoUiide to painf. Women 
viitli dilhevelled hair ; fathers and ii.otheis fiiriiking out tor their 
chiirlren, hufoands for their wives, brothers foi their hlters, filled tw^ 
Tvhole aera en the outlide oi the building. A few who hid efcaptd, 
plunged again into tie flames to fave Ion c dear object ot their regaid, 
and thev perifhed ! ! Tlie d-veinor perhaps fliaied this n.ciancholy 
fate. Others were frantic and would iiave ruthed to deltruction nut 
lor the hand ol a Iricnd. The bells tolled. Almoft the \^hole town 
ruf.ied to the fatal ipot. 

The flan e mud have been caught to t e fcenery from fome light 

behind Robertjon law it, when it was no longer than his arm— — 

Young law it on the roof; whtn it firit built through. Every article 
of the Theatre wa$ confumed j as v,-£U as the dwelling houfc n«xt to it. 



But what- IS wealth in compnrlfon of the valnahle \'vcs which have goatJ 
forever ? The whole town js ^hrowdtd <n. woe. - Heads «? iam.'iic* 
€xringii!i)i«td forever— ~ — many and ^rany is the hf-iiie, in which a 
ch iVn Jias hern made that can ne-ver he filled up. We cannot o "ell 

on Miis picrra'c. ut *<'0'k at the cata'oguc- ol' the v:. tin-is, anci t'nei^ 

icnceiv* the calamity wriith has iaiien u^cii us. Wc muii di'op the 
pen. 



NARRATIVE. 

isFe eaTBiiot paint tlic details '>r the seene on Tliursday 
lgis:}f^_\o descrirition eass do iuslii-e ig its horrors — imd 
there were so few persons so eool imd sieir-eolleefefi iis lo 
aieiir'«,te!y pakii an\ pari of tc»e mass of the woes wlJc^h 
f (f ?! in '^ jnoBient ivion u^. So ae sef\'K s a^e yo fi*a!i;*hfc 
with horror. ih?J a ilelieaje i:encil ^\i;uhl Iklvc lo skip 
then- Be^iides. f!T»>r ertUj^li han no! been had lo briiiij 
together a i aecn^ate .^roiip ef woes 

Iris Gainful to touch upon fhe catastroplje of those wh» 
ha^^e .y^^ne iorevei. i\ieir ashfs are in liie grave — hut- 
their 'iiiemorles a?e entomb' d in our hearts. 

The Generous a )d worih,y Soii^h. who fjut a few days 
i'm-e kVas erf)wnfd with one oi'tlie highest ho'iors whieh 
Tir.'^inia ean h>>it<Av, is snat'died *i'on> ois eo mtrv, hisdis- 
trade! faiijily, his ehihlrirn a ul hia friends! ! It is not 
certar^J . kniw.'i rhetli.M' jc ii id t ileeff'd his escape froiiu 
the h;ul ij ig an.* rjslud a.^iin into the flasnes to save his 
child ! €iier^ is a eonfission in Ihe^tor^^and perhaps it it 
as w'^ll if it never weie *:'e.'ired up. 

Abraham B, Venah-e. Pr side'tt of the Bank of Virgi- 
nia ; a man w!jo has tiHed oi!r puhlie stations with very 
hi^ii reprste ; w)in has men in tise honse of Representa- 
tives and in the Senate of the U;iitMl iStates, diiiiig ih@ 
most interesting peiiods — h^ ?oo Is t^ori^vj He has left ao 
wit*.' j|. childr7»n ; bin a Ion -4 tiaiti of ;'e]a*ives and tViends 
to vve^') his loss. He was in t!ie ho\ with ladies; he 
be^if eti the; I not to be jjrefi )i?ate or iijpaiient ; bi)t \\a% 
at !«' i^th drive 1 tov^ards a wi idow in the iobbv. with a 
«ro\vd ^f oi )«»rs The snffj^ea^in';!: smoke came rolling on. 
Mr. V. a'^l «^>'^e who were with hi;r. were thrown down, 
Mr. ^io?iintl ^^\] towards tho \vt;u!ow and was ''avedj Mr. 
Y» iell thi? ctiier way and penbhed in the saioke ! 



r « 3 

'Many dou'jHcSs v****^^''*^'' '^^ ^^^^ same \^?}r. llie vi» 
1u5« e <fl siiiokt', vlijel. could Siol hi List est;. ^.c Hiioiii^U 
thi i( </f, \v;.8 l>cn< (iowtnvaids ; black, (iense. iil»;»os,l su- 
tuiad'd \>il!» oily v pours. J^iuiry wviv suilocitJcU by it, 
vl.o liil^i.! have liiul siicngtli t'lioitj^li (o Jcuj) the windows, 
Bo%(ial >v('U' siiv(<; In the I'lesh air which they inhaled 
ai Jhe Nvi.idows — or evetj a< aci'aiiny. 

Pooj* BoKh ! a Hjan of asiouishiag assiduity and atlain- 
trients al <he hai, has \h i Lsled vviih hi>? wile and lur 
nciee — he Tell ju rha|,nA a >ie(iiJi to his hojKs. He <hoc5:;ht 
il more pnideut (o siJ still >vitSi his wile, \HJiile ihe crowd 
passed by ; l)ut hei* sister-ia-law ^h-s Pag(*, yield iLiii; to 
tlje s^njjathetic ia.piilse of her iVars, rnslied Ibrwartiand 
is i-ii.ed — What a seal hasdealh ssJ upon his i'aaiily !— 
Al one {Vllsuoo|j, live heh.less cliildiTii are convened in- 
to oi'phans. 

}iow hravi]> 1ms the hand of deiith fallen upon the fam- 
ily of the I'iaivies! Foos* liionriiers ! t!cepl> indeed have 
je {■} nnh of ihe e»{p of afiUeSio!]. ^Vihia live short years 
\e 5 ad !!5niibered amoEJ!>;st the d 'a<!, the venerable Joha 
Ijai vie. the distin.Lyaished Lev.i^ Hai vie, thv ar. liable Mrs. 
M<iraw,tiie ii teresUifc/.^' li tie Ijov of i>i*. Bioekei^biou^^h* 
But bv one blew, iha dislresse:! mother, Mm. Ihirvie, has 
lost her r.ob'.e and !i'-;;'ii-sou'ed daughlLn* Jnliaiia, her ex- 
jieiieriJ son \., J. lioTvie, and tlsat sweet little ;;!rl, Mar/ 
"Wl if lock, her behaved Grasid-dasjj^iiter i ! : lieuder, con- 
ceivr i you can, what you never ean have fell. 

LJejit Jii ?ies I'ibbon, (d'ihe U S. Kavy, has gone with 
the rest ! Vount^ as !se wris, he had tasted of the cup of 
afiiieiiosi. 13<' was iake:i ta^jUVi' in ;he Piisludclpiiia. and 
Inimnred in the priso s of i riunli — tnthis fatal nii^ht, 
beam! PJr. Jolin Lyn !i w re iu the sanje box with i\krs. 
GaJh'go. ]\liss'(Jo2j%ers. ]^lr. \ ei:able and oih/J-s— when 
the alarm wa> hrst ^iven. ih*.^ cndeavoreij to <jnlet the 
ap^?reljetisioiis oTtiK' !.?dies. b it wiien the fjont scene was 
i:)'l1a*nes. they rea.hcd over fer I^iiss (;on>ers \\55o had 
sunk niolionh sj- bi!w\v — im^y t<Md. itrr over ; ihe> held 
hnr between ther.i i i a sta<e of iij^ensibility, her head i'uU 
!in;^ over Mr. Lys:eU's le^i arm. In this njanner tliey 
proceeded towards tlje head of the stairs, w!ien Gibbo?\ 
said, •»L>neh, leave ►'all^ io nic I asn strosig enouj,';!! 
to carry i:or : she is tijirhi. '.»nd ycm lan save son eb«'^'y 
djsc." " Mr. L. rc^ikd, •» God blcb* you, GIbLou, there i& 



[ 9] 

ilio stiir,*' and tlien turned roimd to sack some of ilie 
fither lailies. Foar Gihboii aiul liss lovely and interest- 
ifig couspiitdon sunk t(\:i,Tther. 

,\Ve Huist dro[) ^his reeiliil — We Iiave ah'eady staled 
llie deaths of Ms's.Girardiii and her sweet boy — of Mis, 
Gibson, whose husband is now perhaps on liis way from 
Kuropc ,* wJiat a hlovi u\iOii his heart ! — of the venerable 
'Mvs. Pa^'e ; of Mrs. Lesslic ; of the lovely Nancy Green, 
the daughter of Mr. Green, the Manager^ of the an)ia- 
ble Mrs. 11 Greenhow. The partieulars of most of their 
fates are wrapt in oblivion. Their ashes are in the ^vhyg. 

These perished a^nid the ilanies — but Mrs. Patterson 
and Mr. Wm, Brown were overwhelmed liy the erowd. 

Let us 6l!ano;e the scene. — It is a far more i^ratefiil 
task to deseribe the fate of those who have, as it were, 
miraeulously escaped. It is some relief to our feelings, 
to contemplate those who seem again to have <« re-vi sired 
tlie realms of light," It is almost as if the grave liad giv- 
en them up again from its jaws. Vve are sorry, indeed, 
that our limits do not permit us to furnihh any but hasty 
sketches of events. 

Mr. John G, Jackson was overi*eme by tl?.e sufToeatuig 
smoke and fell senseless. His last recollection was (hat 
his feet were descending ; but whetkc r ae floor or E;ar- 
way Avei'e broken or he had reached the descent, l?e >vas 
not conscious— but insensibly he descended to tin' levc-I of 
the pit, where a strong current of fresh air revived liiin, as 
lie lay amongst a heap of prostrate persons. lie plryggled 
to rise and found liiiBsclf on his feet with a lady eli'urin^^ 
to him and beseeching him to save her. With dillleiilty 
he found the door, not being acquainted with tlse house, 
but at last he emerged with the lady, when the fire v/as 
pouring tiirough the front windows, and ere they jjad 
advanced far, the roof tumbled in. 

Mr. M. W. Hancock carried with him to the play, liis 
DJcce, the tv.o Miss Herons and three boys. AVhen the 
alarm was given, he »ad all in his pov/er to save Ills j:ro- 
tcges — but was at last separated from ihcui all. 'i lie 
flames Vtcre apiproaching with a degree of fury ai>d ra- 
pidity that was perhaps never exceeded. Hitherto tlie 
scene had been all br.stle, confusion and coissternauon ; 
itnowfhansied to one of an awful horror and desnetati- 
Oft iL^* beggars descL^ption. He attempted to reach the 

B. 



f iQ*j 




f enfrc tvliiil^w in tlic lobiry o^" tli(- lov/er bo::cs: Ec at 
Jii&isiiu needed m mouniiisg an the iiCajV^ oi iJie cit>v»vs De- 
tvix< him ami the window, ai.d jinaiiv itiiehed it, iruiix- un- 
did hy \hc u '. availing a i id ail-Kiing ii«its of (ho«e sutilca- 
iiii.t;* around ill is j. lie stepped withm ihe wiii«J(;w iind v.Ui* 
diiilculi^ raised the lower sash — ha Unust liis teet 4;iit, 
>vhen vIjc sash Avashiidriciih pixysed do\vi) am) cai-^i.i his 
fevt bM'^>ixt it RTid «he ?.iiL lie e:\trieale(l one foot uut 
coiilu ijot the otiicr, i.nluthoic behirksii iiHi» V/iio iiad siitliii- 
eni stveivTtiileiUo niA^untoverhiiiiaiKitl^elowersasii \uiich 
keiti iiiiii dowTi, did so. He t^ound iinnscif so I'ai* gone IV< in 
siiiiOeatioii that he gave biijisch ii}»sis lo»t— tbt i^nies ii•^Wf 
evei% flashed over hivS Kead, and (he iiitrodiiittioh oi" fresh 
airatihe botiom o !he\*sndo\v gave him new iite, liiose 
bfni.id idiU beirivij no lor^ger able lo ker|j nun down, lie v. ith 
a last efilovt raised ilie sasii, exfrieaied 5»is fooi and juitspeHi 
oiu. )t gives Its feiiieeiie pleasure to add that (he three 
bovhaiid Qkvh whom he carried wi(li hini have ail escaped 
tiilh their lives* ^^ 

Mr. tiohn L^neh was the or.lj person who passed the 
"l^indow ai\er Mr. Kaneoek. After he had U>l't poor Oib- 
bcvi, he iiiCt witli a variety of horliti adventures. Ali *Aas 
iiuerdai4aeas in xlw lobbv and sairi>cauon threatened. — 
li was aii awfuJ erisis, and but tiiat or^e of tiie wicfdows 
was burst open aiid let irt fiesh air, he thinivs aU iu iiio 
liiUh} must have perished 5 al length he reaehed the win- 
dow, where lie i'ouiid a gentleman lixed fast, whom h© 
sinee bciievcs to have been Mr. Haucoek. After an aw- 
fui ia]ist\ the fianies were rashin^ on in ail directions^ 
})is hair canght fire, ho{K' deserted him ; he was 
strnek with lioiTor at the idea of beiif<^' bhrnt alive, fie 
riished towards the wiudovv, waving his hands as quick as 
possible over his head and clothes. 1'his was a «ireadful 
iBojueiit ; he saw i);anv <lrop dow n on each side of him suf- 
ffA-aled — Ihe window was now fi'ce, and lie was scaj'celv 
OE HiC bottom or it when he heard an awful crash behind 
hmu kid threw himself out and providence preserved 
him.* 

Mr. B^obert dreenhow precipitated himself down thc^ 
Siirs over fire-brands and bodies, with his fine son in his 
TiiAj— » Jid was saved. ' oi 

Irir. 'e&r? hr:ftlx isacde a womjerful eioaj*^ wUwdilSc 



^iikh .His laj'v was saved by a strons^ m b^h; u^he^ 
hy ihv hii'iv o! m^; hnyl over the bodies io the stair-watj, 

Aa'. ?5tctson leii i.s i.he lobhj v/iili iri^ heaci t?* the v,aU — 
bur for a criis tk vliieh his moqib ticeicientaUy caugktr ^e 
Vtiiild 'have died foi* wiint of air— lire fre-sb air tiiat 
sliouiued tJn'oiigli it ivvived liUu iMnn\^;h iohix his head to 
liK* \viisd<iw — a rirsii diaugLt of it revived Lim atid h^ 
juir-ped oiil. 

3lv Gordon was Baved in a state of iiiscKsibiiity. Jii§ 
la'Iy ^v•as savt^d bv JH^nping (brough -^ window and cHug- 
iuQlto a ma% and lier liUie (laugh ter by hanginj^ to hey 
Dsaulie. 1 hey liiid three chiidren there, and not one of 
thenj was lowU 

Several iijdividuais were active InriB'^ung their lives for 
their feilow-ereatiires. Dr. Me,CaAy let do»va several from 
the \iindow — Mi\ Doyle, Mi% Graot and others, who were 
ei5i, iVeelved jiiaiiv as (ije;^ wove let or ji:ii;;)e'J^ vl^wu, 

Tliere are some of (he unrortuna?e vietiLiss^^of Thu:*sday 
fii<;hl, whose par ticuhir iates:%e haveiavain atte;ii|)teQ to 
fei itia(e. We have taken nneomi«oa|>nln3 to eiOect an 
aath-!-^!e narrative oi' the events o^this ^asastrous siigj^t^ 
ve Ijrtve rei|u«'sted the aid oi' e^ery person who we had 
hcn^'d was eapubie of fivi'Jiibhing 0.uy iaformation, and to 
whom the subjeei was not too ie^.derlobe oietiticoed; yet 
it is with suiHe paiu we have lailed in our ellbrts. We 
sh'.ald be gnrry even to %ear tlie most ^ jstanf. appear- 
anee of Jiegieeting the fate ar memory of arjy oue who pe- 
rished en thalde^)iorablei5ight--hutthis appearance at toast 
ssiii3Yit;ihIe. I'here were few persons so eoo! aodoollected 
jas tt> he able to illustrate the liorrors of that night : several / 
who v.erc able to poiiit out partieular threads i?i the dis/ 
asU'ous web of destiny are bo douiVt (nd^BOwo to us : Sv/d 
BO'ue who ::ave promised to rediiee tBeir narrative to /(Ja- 
pe^** have been prevented froiu doing so hy their ens^ge- 
jiieuts or their ft^eiiiigs. T!ie followisig are theody/state- 
iiK'^ts which vve have received. They are eneug-^ howe- 
ver, to eoianmincate a faint idea of tiic collective/horrors 
©f he seene 5* viiat a g^roup would have breaAed upoa 
the canvass, if a Sew faint strokes of the penei/are so af« 
feeia- : J''" siivh we-"? the f^elja .s of a few indivi-.hr^!!, 
ijjmit Kiust have been the situation of ^OO^c>|>iQ ?— -410^ 



[ 12] 

impotent is tlje pencil of Raphael h\ tlic Yaticaii, Avlicn 
he aUempts to paint the eonUagiation of Koine ! 

^Vii shoiihl still proceed in our researches — bnt the 
reader ha^ contemplated hoi-rors enouf^h. It is tline to 
leave the i aths ol* death. >Ve have dwelt long- enough up- 
on this melancholy ihenie ; and we are anxious to relieve 
our coltinins tVoni the sDnibre sahh' of woe. With this 
pai^er, therefore let us cease the strains ot'griel*: let us 
drop the subject. There is only anollier point oi' view 
in which we yet propose to consider it ; but this is not 
directly calculated to harrow up the i'eeling-s of such as 
liave lost their friends. liCt us of.en the pages of history, 
and see wiiether this is the only city, which has been af- 
ilicted by so seveie a visit^'ilin— v/iicther this is the only 
peoph? whom -^the paths o\' ptcitsin^c h.-ive led to the grave!*' 

We have learp.t nothing very particularly authentic of 
the fate of Mrs. Wilson — we have uiereiy heard that with 
the cool and deliberate resolution of a strong mind, she 
remained for a time in her first position, fearin?^* rather 




fatal mistake ! Mrs. Wilson perished — one of tlic best of 
wives, the best of mothers, the most exemplary step- 
mother that ever lived ! Words cannot express the agony 
of her distressed family — the deep dejection of all her 
friends. 

The fate of Mrs. Heron is also wrapt in oblivion. She 
had been unfortunate enough to lose I'cr husband by a 
disastrous accident — and her children have now lost their 
mo? her by one still more rapid and resistless. She Mas 

eminently true to all the domestic charities of life. 

But neither the hand of aifection, of friendship, nor rcs- 
p^^ct could snatch her from the tomb. 

Mrs. Cook, the lamented wife of Mr. William Cook, 
and lier daughter S'ebecca, perislied together. Long shall 
the disconsolate husband and father, weep over their ash- 
es. Three motherh ss children are left behind her. 

But >i'hy spread before the reader, all the havock of the 
Bccne ? The young have sunk as well as ,the old : — 



[ 13 ] . 

Sill of tliein dear to tliclr familios awl fi-iemls, "^Yiiliain 
Soiidi,^iite the only prop of ilia fa-iiilj of Wrij'2;ht tsoutli- 
g?.,te, diiii, — Each lias liis merits f each has thejiublie 
tear. \ 

What a scene was cxhibiled for several hours a fie r the 
tragic event ! Maiij were ignoraut of the ftite of their 
friends. Almost everj one had liis f-ars and suspicions, 
During the next day, two persons could scarcely meet 
without exehan^^'ing expressions full of solicitude ; " Have 
you lost'any of your family T^— •'• Is your family safe ?^' 
•« 1 nm i^lad of il, I am i>iad of it !" 

Many escaped with extreme diiacu-Uy. Several have 
broke!] a liinh. Mr. Johsi Richanis has brokers a lei^ ; 
Mr. Carter Pa?;*e has broken his. Trlsss Pendleton has 
also broken a limb — Mrs. Beott of Fairfax, is much burnt. 
Some were severely burnt, w'lose cloths were whole, 

STATEMENTS. 

I occupied on Thursday evening a seat in V.iq lower cor- 
ner box on the left of the entrance into the Theatre* 
The Jirst I saw of the fare a piece of paper in full blazo 
was descending- from the top and was tljen about iifteeii 
feet above the level of the sta^e, ere It alig!ite(l, a gene^w 
ral cry of" fire '' pervaded the house ; and the persons 
immediately quitted their seats. 1 \vas amonr^- the last 
to do so, and when I i^ot half tlie distance to the stair- 
way I met with Mrs. Scott, a lady cf my acquaintance 
who I entreated to be calm, and nnt too precipitate ; as 
her safety depended on deliberation : her answer was 
" I am not alarmed and will do so y^ we advanced a few 
feet and a loud cry that it was a ** false alarm'* induced 
me to return to the corner where 1 had sat and looked 
through a door then open, and jhere I discovered the sce- 
nery in full blaze and the canopy on fire. I hastened 
back to the crowd, being a stranger at the Theatre and 
ignorant of itsconstruction I knew of no mode of eseape ex- 
cept thro' the avenue I had ascended to the boxes. I found 
it blocked up by the crowd, and the light being very vi- 
vid, I discovered thaf the persons in were principally La- 
dies : they were greatly alarmed and crying for relief, 
and entreating the crowd not to destroy them ; still per- 
sisting in the belielf that as the tire w as iu the resir, t^o 



li - ; ^ '-^^ anilb^i::;;!? too L:>;'r tv> e:K'0-;iRrr^vie s: .r- 
i* ' from pivssin?^ lipofi ikr^^:.« Uu^in a ?rii ute. 

I ji-y Ih»j>c** wero' ill?!-!ve — a bljtck sh'ick sFuoke 

1" -;' f-ri a^on lis, so I'lst;; ■? -•■^co i^h' s;j«il"j-caii- <;- lluit '-^.oj^e. 
V *:uv} ^i^V'c^d UtVtH'ir i' iivfi hy oryh'y:,, srmk wii!t> ^a 
J? ind I foirid it space in from n<» Eori^ej- crowiled ex-- 

ce;N Ji? 5»rosfrak* hodi's I a'Jvaoco^Wir'til the exJcfriaf. 
liL' ^ a%< eKained lomctliatl was o;i<>osh; a win»i{>\'v n*.-;t.r 
<L'.' 5!i"a(l of thr hiairs ; this ! emloavoure.i slo force* but 
tli?* bodies <ir syrue porsoMS staruiinj^ in f jj.al di»'eciion st^jjit 
nir Hvo IVt't short of ir. ?n the* oif '••;« mad^^ afier the. 
spf/v? rejiclifHl «ie I iniiHi i ave c.^usmnrd !udf a irdnuic. 
J r.cii \vas f'(.v:npel'od to brcatln^ tliifs oppr^'ssive s« ■ckcv 
wnicJ wan so nitolciable, That f could onlv make one eon- 
y'i5srvr> sirr.perle to a«!viince, and J tUcn simk senseless. — 
iftiv fast reeoilection wus lliat iiiy fict \v re df^scersiH^K^' r 
hv.t wsisether Un!^^ floor or stair-way were broken* *or 1 L; d 
rerudied the descent. I ain not eonscio is, f henrd no 
iif:"se. Inscnsi'dy I deser -ded to tlie leve! of the pft» avid 
tlit re a S!rf?!i.i»' enrreni oTf^esh air revived me, iis 1 ay 
amongst a fjeap ot* prosti-ate persor4S. I sn*r<^y:led to iTse 
and -"{K-nd Jiirself iir»on my feet with a lady rlin;^!ii;r to iwa ; 
sh^ "M« seated me to save iser, aad as sr.e was ana^le (o 
su^jport licrseM* I earried her iiv varhius direcilons to iinA 
the outer door, wlueli I avoided from a ?iiistake that had 
al^r.i>st nroved S'atal. I saw si^veml ]ierso s faliinj^ fi'ojn 
the windows iuio '<he gtveet in fidl Idaae, anJ my i?«')res- 
sion was that beeoming' desoerate by (he fire, they were 
plir-Jiirifi; from the boxes into t-u^pit, the >)!aee oi" aU o- 
thers lOst to be avoided, in th.is effiirt to fmd the way out I 
sav. several gentleoien run'iisti^ to t.nd fro ia T/hcm 1 ad- 
dress<»d the enquiry •» wiiieh is the way out ?'* but «:blaifi. 
ed no answer. I at l^r»j;th deteriii.^ied to iinfl the avsfiue 
thro!ir:ch wiiieh the great column of viv entered^ a.id by 
rnni'J!;* towards it, sc^on gained lise door \7hen we ;^ot 
©u^. t'le fii'o was 'v^Mrin*? jfcron^b the front windows, and 
ere •*o ba' advanced far Ujq rooftunibled in. I'he hidy 
W'om ? V'*- ;"* j^ult elaiiiicd aiy assistance and 1 carried 
her to -a .lAtcuf safety —I saw no raoro of tjje scene until 
th*'^^ waits tif:8»bled down, and do not know; if a^y or how 
jT»ii ;- i'o? <)»»» .t*<er v/e did, but ! am cr' tident ^ha' if' iose 
JppeiU withoat ii.;;d r^n la; maiiy ^ ho fell by the suSbc^;^ 



fl5§ 
^ti aad wert Iiiu'iied be Tore iLej legiuiicd sucngtli fo risej 

I>€cembcr 50, 1811, 



Sir — Igrecabij fo yOiir i-equest, I pn)ceccl ^o state ihor 
^HVcvt. UitiCfos itriei>diiB;4 luv situation iwA escape iVoirt 
the Theatre on The aw Tiil nigiit oJ Jhe :-6(h. inst. I {-aiv 
ricn* witli me <o tLie play oiy niece and the two Miss tie* 
r<5iis, AllVeti Gilliat, Pe er Kirby a;ni Nicholas GilH.ini 
ne]i^se^vs oi n^y t^iie aiKlbelf. The House v.ab r,u(li tiow- 
dec!: for the |.j;ids, 1 with diiikuilty procured seals a:ii>:vg 
«oi:ie of iiicir fjieuds inosily Jadics hi b<»x iNo. 8. ar^i for 
tlu' boys seal«> in the baek of box No. 7 — aoil ^vas 3ifti';|]* 
^vnea the e^arvaisi 5'os<' i?* the second ai'l of the aHerf,;'.' co 
r}c\\ ihc boys, imniediately after which the alarn? of :o 
wiiy given, and instantly I sa^^i^ ihe ilre rjillhig on the s^ui-e. 
On ri sin*? from iny scat I desired the boys to lake care of 
Ihemseives and escape as soon as |>i»ssibh', md proceeded 
ii\>seirtov'ards the si^ats in the next box which were oceu- 
] led by my neice, ihi: Miss Herons and their party, witJi 
the intention of assisting them out of the House. I r*.*^ h- 
fd the place without miieh diiliculty, but the party bad 
Sill left their seals and in endeavoring to return thro' ^ ho 
lobby 1 was carried with tlie ourrent of the crowd oppo- 
site to the place frorii w hes^ec I had departed a!id fo^md. 
that Mrs. Gibbon, I^rs. Gallcj^o, ^Miss Conyers ari«l tlie 
three !5oys had all left their seats — In the then»st;i(e of 
aifairs it was evidently fruitless Sbr me to search for '^ifti^^i* 
of the persons of whom J liadbee^i ic pursuit, and at fhi* 
JTijictare Ibesran to thJJiL; of lavself for the first time. — I 
v.-ss ;?• the lobby Rexl to box, Kc 7, and the flames vere 
5{p?*roachiDg with a degree of feiry a,a;d rapidity that p^r- 
blips was never exceedei^ — hitkerto the scene iiad beea 
si!I bustle, confu-iion and constesHation : it now chanjTed 
to one of awful horror i^ml de-peratioa tbat beggars all 
description ; all ceremony was foi-gottes m couformirfr to 
the first law of nature, f perceived the centre window id 
^he front end •»€ the House and deterodnv"d to e«deftvor to 
Iffieh it ; x^itU the assistasice of a sword ca?!** wh'nli ' ?;ad 
in liiy hand, aad tfee |>artiU^» li^atwixt th^ lofeb^ aad^ft^ 



r 16] 

Ko. f, I TJioTiiited on \he Iicads of tlie crov.d bchvixlnie 
Rnd ilie vrindow ; I)y this time the SJouse Avasiii total chirk- 
ness from smoke, hiii gropiji(2^1 providential l;v I'eaclied the 
side ol'the Avimlow, suiTonnded by the uuavailiiij^ and af- 
i!ietir;g ci'ies of those suffocating ai'ouad me. 1 stepped 
^vithin the window, »;ul with dii^liculty raised (he iower 
sash Avith the inlentioa orslipjtii)goijt, and had thi-ust my 
feet thro' for that purpose, when ti^e sash was suddenly 
pi'ossed down and caught my feet betwixt it and the win- 
dow sili. I extricated one foot but eouhl not extricate tlie 
otlier, until those behiFid me Avho had siifileient strength 
left to nionnl over me and the lovvor sash winch kept me 
down, did so: in t'lis situalion I found myself so far gone 
from suifocation, tisat I f^*ve myself up as lost, the Ihimcs 
however riis'neil over my head and tlie introduction of 
fresh air at the bottom of the window ,qave me new life, 
those behind me bein?*; no ion;^er able to keep me down, 

1 with a last cfFort raised tlie v/indoV extricated 

my foot and jumped out, without receiving any injury 
from the fall, though much isijured in one of my feet 
from bruises oceasioacd by tlie pressure of the window 
sash, and I have o(her wounds and bruises received in 
the lobby and window so sl'.ght however as under otlier 
considerations not to be worth naming. IMr. John Lynch 
rnerehant of this city was I believe the only person who 
past thro' the window after me. I left many others about 
it, all of whom must have perisiied ; so rapid was the 
fire that I do not think three minutes could Iiave elapsed 
from. the first alarm U:i(il I reached tlie window: at any 
I'atc with all the exertion tliat I could make, about thirty 
feet would I think include t!ie whole space of my progress 
from the first alarm until I reached the window, and at 
ih^J ti n3 many were ejfpiring with suifocation — .In the 
ji idstOiio much sorrow and grief it aifords ;ne much eon- 
iolatii) 1 that the three hoys and Girls whom I carried 
viui mc have all escaped with their lives, tho' the efforts 
whicdi I made with the view of assisting them were una- 
vailiag. The scene which ensued out of the hou3e, was 
witnessed by ma:^.y, and like that within, will long he re- 
membered, but probably never adequately described. . 
I am respeetfuMy sir. 

Your ob't servant, * 

M. W. HANCOCK. 



t 17 ] 
Sir— Tn eonspqnenco of the conversation, we liacl Oiig 

t-Vt' U)^, 1 l.}.:vC U|) ill.> ]<en, ami VVi.l.oUl i'u Hi; I- J t; a, tt, 

stuic, taas .wiif u tin* coisjiucaceiiieur *>r liie «!i I'adlii] i^jse 
or riiiij'sdiiy iii^lii was ai.a<»urR'r(i i'l-oui Uie ^Ja <*. i ,vas 
Icining' ovei* the' back oTsitc iVo::tbi«\. ulntli wai> juxt I? 'he 
lunili side oi'tiie i'iieaur ; oji ni\ l<'f< h ,5i ! wa^ Lj. bthbom 
and Oil the hencls dir. etlj below, were Mis. vialicj;**, ^/iss 
Coiiyeis, yh's. Gib'io i, jIis. ili-axtmi. Mi*. \ eiiab-e and 
o(hc!'s, waose aa.ues i eaMisut lee'dlect ; ihe alann of lire 
was iiiijijedid'vely saeeeed^'d by a cry oi*, \is a false 
aiarni, there is oo iiaug- 'r, and as we did no( iiuagi! e any, 
both LieiiL Gibboti and iu^hcU* endeavoured Jo (jsii*'! iho 
appreh* nsions of the la<lies \ i the l)o\ : I iived my e;es on 
the. Sta.i^e ; the s.ene whieh was down, isad ihe appcar- 
Rfsce of a traiis;)arency, behind wiiich i;Se;nns oi' li^ljt seem- 
ed to descend ; but this did i50l convince me, or- any per- 
son neai' me; a moment howi ver deciried, (licfionl stene 
is in flames, and 1 then resolved to ji,ive all (hat assistKnce 
w^Jch humanity diciat<'d, a .d reached over lor Mi^s C<. ?i- 
yers. wiio iiad suiik motionless beJo^v. ijieul. Gibjoii did 
the. same, we took her over, we hekl her bitween us, slue is 
in a state of insensibiliJy, and t(i| all aj)pi*arance dead, hei' 
Lead fa]lin;^'over my Ivfi ariu ; in .his manner we proceeded 
ta;y.irds the head of the stairs, when GebSon, said. LyiiCti 
leave Sall> to nn', I am strou;*^ enough io carry her, she » 
li;^ht. and yo:i can save somebody else I re-::ied. God bicsg 
yoH, Gib3)oi. tliere is (he s<uirs. 1 tlieit turned round and 
proceeded foi' my 0!i,u;iiraj siJuadon in order to laKe out 
lEOsue of the other Ladies, aiid as I resumed, [ p( '(rivid the 
dreadfiil elemeait rush wi5b «he i-apidify of lighOd '.^ fsoni 
Ihe sia-'o, aloni^ tiie faesii.4^ of :he u,?j,er h;)xe>-. lakissg hotli 
aides ai the sa ;ie tiine, and from J he di'cadfuS c<duJu f 
smoke which was llien (hrov.M down uj;oi iheceiiM'c of I he 
fi'ont boKcs. ihe fii-fjues' must have met (here : all was n 'W 
i]<ier dai'kness iij (he lobb\, and suir<{easion Jhieaiess. - . I 
could not do any thi'i?';, J was iti the luidst of a croud- of 
SisTerers, the cries were dreadful ; ii was an awful peiio?, 
an 1 only that the ee.d wisdow was (iicn iju!*st open, we 
115 jst all, all th'dt Vvcre in thai l<d)by, certainly I ave been 
s:rlfoca«ed : the o!>enl!i4r of (he window brou.^'ht iclief 
and hi>-)e, I ntoved oa with the 5hro::ii;to the win^lou, rnd 
fiof to (he We-t ^liie of ir There was n t^en esuun in a 
light coloured eoatj fixed fasl 1 1 the window se.it (wuoju I 

C. 



r 18 3 

»1nf«^ nni^ersf'^nil wns "Mr. Haiu'och.) H appeared to mt 
tlmt his W'j,^ an'* tliii;ljs were fixed JjeUvixl the hill ol' the 
viddiiw iin:^ tlie biiek \voi-k ; men and ^volnen were pi*e- 
ci ^itafinj^ themselves on his shouhlers, iTi^jartllrss oT his 
entJ-ea ies to allow him t<) free himself, and ofthe fate that 
awaited them hi-low : many bod'es \v«re hiMiii; on the 
gi'o ?nd to apjM'araiee iW^iin and the ila>nes were |)assin|[^ 
©lit of thf toj) Oi* the window ; I was undetermined, and 
at that n»oi«>e!tt I was pushed away towi.rds the west wall 
©ruie Theatre: aj^ain suffbeation threatrned, the ilauK's 
"Vfcre riishin^qj on in all diieelions, my h:^ir eauj^'ht uie, 
(for my liat was j^one,j hope deserted me ; I was strnek 
iNith horioi at the idea of hehv^ burnt ali\e. { i'lislied to- 
V^ards the whidow. waving my hamls as qiiiek as possihlo 
ovt r m\ head and elothes ; tliis was a dread :\sl moim nt, 
1 Raw ma!i> drop down on eacii side (d* me sulForatec?, und 
I Passed over so'Me bodies on \uy way ; (1 e window was 
now free, and I >vas seaierly on t\w bottom (jf it, when I 
heard an awful (rash behind me, I thrmv oiysrlf out, iissd 
provsdraee jireservcd me. I auj wiih lii ait felt feeiiiigs Oi 
•oii^Tutula ion on youro vn providential escape. 
Very res-ieetiully, 
Sir, 
Your most obeili.'nt, 

JOHN LYNCIL 
Dec. to, 1811. 



Dear Sir— Tjeinj? toM. ih^ii for ihi^ purpose of collect- 
ini^ the best iuTormation coneernin;^ all tJio eireiimstan- 
ces attending the late dreadful eonila;4;ration, ^o\\ wi^re 
desi?'ons of obtaininj^ from each individual who had es- 
caped, a short aeconiit of the manner and elreunjstanees 
under which sncli escape was eHecled ; 1 send you thy 
lollowin.<5 slateaient : 

As the curtain arose for the eomniencement oftljei'd 
act of the pantonji.jse. I was standlni.^' in the Ioh!)y oji iho 
l<iwer ra I'jje of i)o\es. eo >versini^ v/ith some of my friends 
thro' Jiie brokea mn- elof abox a!)out SO 'eel f»om the !'ead 
o'the stairs. 'I'his box was entirely ulKc!. ;|mo5»i»* others 
vho wer ' in it, a rl who have nerisiie 1, I r ' nember Mvs, 
Galle^o, V!i-<^s Co'ivrs, Ijient. (jii)ho:i and Mr. \'e;:able. 
•.^IiU/iiisdiatcl^ afiei' tUo rkiaij ui tiia curlain> and as 



r <9 1 

!^ie scene comnienec'l, l saw .s<^vpra1 f!a1<es ofi!re fuE 
about (lie ('cilro oi tae sUi,^v ; .jat sii^>j used it vuts pi*)* 
feaolj tiR"! ra!Ii!i,i4; of soiae osMaiiieat or lights intended lo 
iiiinMiiijite tiic sccae. i'lte t-r^V ol* »* iirc*' was instaM?lj 
g'lvi^i — I advanced a iVv/ sle^s iato tat* lobby t'n(|!iii i;sg 
f -\>iii waencc the ahirai ;irost', and tact several jjeiso ,s, 
sa,ac ofiiicai ksiovvn to aie, eaili ig; out Jaal it was a false 
Tsiiiiai^-I turaed abopt aud iiow suw tht^ curJain dropjud, 
a d a ver^ t,A\'i^v i)i'i^'!it li^'a* bt aind i«— -itaea ft It assvsr* 
«d (hat ihe aoiisc was oa ijie i.j that *jiaii' er — The ion- 
st( iMJiiioa and confuyloij IkuI beco.; c j^eiierai ; 1 iVI( no 
leal* v.aatcvci* IVo.a the ilaaies, a'vJ was oul* appivlien- 
«iv;^ tiK^t iL>j tiieias^iehiosi;} <jf ihe ei'ovvd, maty would a» 
«ivished to death ; aad with others uui'ed in ealli ig o it 
to those aruurul lae, that tiio daagei* \uis ;aa.u;'nrjed, a d 
b socehed tiieai not to pivss so fast oa tiiose before ; ,^o 
ealk'd to the winds ; I end<'av.*iTd a(*vv to fojce say way 
back to the side oi'tiie b>)X I iiad lel't, to eal.a the frars 
oi* tiiosc with whoai I had been speaKin.^*. aid to waii un- 
til ihe ei'owd ha! passed ; this, however, was iaipossible ; 
the ecduain <jf the crowd ia whicdi I was eneIoi«ed. litre 
lae irresislifdy, hvd slowly along towaids the stairs* ; still 
feeling sio fears of (jeiag overtakea by the liaaies- 1 eaa- 
lir<:ie(i n>!»U'd i:i aiv cloak atul prrssi:^g aiy wei^j^ai back- 
V/ards, to ^ive as far as 'j50ssible an opportunity to those 
013 the head oi the stairs, Twitere the pressure already 
se^iu'/d dreadful) to effect their escape ; suddenly 1 per- 
*«ived a thick, black, hot siaoke, curling down our heads 5 
persoa[> w. re no longer to be d3stinci;nisiRd- utter darkiass 
prevailed - suffoealioii was Tast approaciiinj^' — .for the hrsf. 
jaoa^ent I was ses'io islv .ihiriiR-id — and by the aiosl violent 
exertions ciideavoured to make my way to (he head of 
tlii'. sli-irs — it appeared to ur' I cuuld not qaii an i.sch— 
Tiosc a'.Hjiiad me were sinkiag---my own strenj^th failed, 
fi.vd i veriSy believed that I never should see the li^'iit 
at^aia ; at tills iastant a wiad.)w on my ri,^;ht was forced 
open— fhe frcbli air somevhal dissipated the sniokv a id 
n vjvcd us t > nc v exert ,m a universal sci'ea.a of ann^led 
joy and despair vas i;,iven, and a I'ush towards the wia<lovv, 
th >se next it see aed a uible to move, a d cried out •• tiait 
thev were pressed io dea(h." I was wilhi s a few .a;%'3 
of ii — .i;i 1 fiydes era e exertions end' avored ('> eav-h it: 
I yc^ukl iioi : ia a last ciis^ri Qi dos^kur^ a?9;9istia^' in^a^iS 



[20] 

bv iho slioiildpr offoiTto or o next ir.o, I drew my ftrl up 
arc' v:.s (Licv i: bv i\.v nuittd inijiiiK' iA\>U tih, i;i,ii iiiy 
c.s'- i.\tr iot ^, villi my hei iVuvviU <.n \hv ^viiicU.w sil', 
c^ tUv sv 1? iusr.snt tojtisnuu Iv ?( i2ii\u: a brcKii. i'li^;- 
ij ( Hi <;!* tlr iiNli. 1 |asi"t'd ujv hviA hwdv it aiiil iiiaii- 
eci the ^-rtjuiiil \uihou(. iiiultiial hjny'j — lUit ii.aii> tiC- 

hiiid 2i;e. 

THOMSON r. MASON. 

Honda;^ iucrning. 



Sir— My fi lord Mr. Tliois us Nelson has infcrmcd 
liu'. U.aJ von Aviirbi'd mo lo stale the |ji.rticuhii!? oS njy 
|- <>M< i nuul es( ji|.e iitiii tin c;ie;.«;1VI i:jeA>hiil cohhuu;- 
eu t.be 'iiiiatre mi »hmfedi.\ nij hi la^t. 'ihey are as 
foliuw: 'lisehite [ejiod at >^hieh I aMi>cdiiltLe ['my 
b«Hise, coiiijeiied ui^ lo i.steid to the ^ eoud ro^v cl bi.x- 
€s loiiodirc a seat U.r Krs. PercHeuiu aid ii;,^hiir, 
ViAie we leisiiiueii until i {ii^eoveiei: tlir setMu! s{ i ik of 
fctv iui\ 01, tiu' s<ui e in i'tcsJ oT ibe t i:i (ain. \U;t n I iiiJ- 
iLetuatrl^ istard the ei'v of hie is em beland — ] then k ft 
iin s at, aud rioeeci ed alou^ the iiarig ^^a^. Icwasds the 
Liiiii o. the hiai; eusc , eniiea^iu^^- the afi'ti,i;httd fni:ji!ts 
iu have |>atieiKe, aid not |>irei]ritate tbeiiistives into the 
iiiii .chfet , i^wd that was ^ res.Mni^ f( r^vaid. kst >ve should 
be^^a^!i[Utl to <h'ath, belit^ving* (hat by waiiij.g a ftw 
iiiiriuu i^, we shoiihl have nioie room, and eonsiijiieniljr 
descis.d v.jih m< recx^:edition and Sc.lVt.y. 

In a Tew seconds, tiowevei'. I was conur;{ed by the ef- 
f«< t wl an i ich'si riJiiibU ciirrent of ^uain v.n nsj llesh, and 
Sw.ohe on m> lungs, tha' I iiad mis; ahnJated, and 
that our eser.pe mufet be insJantaneous or not at 
a'h as sutibcatioii tl.irateiiOd. Vvitb an energy wi;ieh 
IiotfiiiJ.:^ biit suth a (Sreadful crisis eoiJd insjjre. [ 
rubiied for>\aiu. retailing n«y wife's arm looked fiist 
11 I. line. nriJi! ! ataiied He iiisl turn in the stair ease 
jiisl bclou, or jeiliaps i.eaiJy o]);>osite the vundow, 
ih:\ the f<0! t cos t.er. on the lower, or si(h' next the 
.melting house. At this [luee, the ero\ul behino me tied 
O? ihe tiiil of my lar.:;(' loose great foat. eom- h(e!y sJop- 
pef njy !>' ot r* hr. aiuihat'. \uli j.it,h (lirt \M)nHM)av 'wj ic!s, 
HiiicU iiotuin^- bm aa cxeriiou i did not think m^ sell ca* 



[ Jl ] 

pfible of niaki 1.:^^ prevcnle I. intuis situation my wife, 
(j^-5\'itt tiiifS. sii-, Ti^Hi'e u> voiii'syii* .iiv 'i^oiiy !; x^as toi-ii 
fro. si lue bj the rcsisiiess furcc orihe i'i*ovvd,tiiul jasiatiiKi 
insliiiit i>i* our si'par.iiEiOij. nuubi'i's wei*;? trii.ii,)!eil il Mvri, 
a.j 1 I did vorilv heiicvc, tkiat bhe was one o liiosc a.jfoi*- 
tii'iiite vieiiiiii. S thjui^ht i had iSica lost the objoci which 
lisad thus vdv stiniulahMl my exei'tio 's. and re.aaineu ^ler- 
IVctiV iuotio liess i'^tv sanw sccoiuls, havi;i,i^' lixed .ny^ 
glef in the eoisiifr of (he bri^ k wall to piN-vent be- 
in/'' foi'ecd do>vn, a?id reilt'cted on (he iaipossibilily of 
exl'.iealirii;; nj^seiT from JJie isap iKiirij^ desiru; i:on, by 
follo^vni:^' (he prodi^^iu-is uro.vd th:i^ was tae.i wedginji; fne 
in j!iy fos'iunaie ei/iner, »V!iihi th^isi^ reileeSiou^ wera 
eiossisr;^ tiiy mind. I heai'd (he whidovv forced 0|>enjust 
above nje, ami n 1( the reviviii^; iutisj: nee vif tiie clelicions 
iHii' whieli ruslied U5)0!i jae, kind iuvi^-uratecl (he Oiihiis 
v/hieit then savtd njy life. By exersioj^s whieh 1 now cons- 
dei- as sa/erna^sn'aU 1 reac;i«J ilm wi alow, which at that 
auspicious inosatin I eaj n^d undis aft d possession of, and 
ai'tei* iooki!i,4^' down to aseeitaiu where 1 inighl aliv^^ht 
with least injuiy to niyseif. as well as (o o(hei*s wlio had 
preceded me. § seased ajysei** < n (lie winduw si!i, aud 
eased myself off very (ieJiberately a!?d gradually, retlect- 
ia,aJ the sanie *in e. that if I conld contrive my elo(hes 
lo touch the vraH as I descended, (he force of my passage 
tlown would be somewhat broken. I soosj experi- 
enced the hapjn reality of this exfferiment, for 1 lassdcd 
on my feel, perfectly erect, and have never since felt (ii© 
least soreness or inr-o ncuiejsce frota luy manner oTescape. 
Tiiijs, sir, i have in a hasly niai^sier complied wi(h the re- 
quest to the best of my reco^eclion. 1 will not a( tempt to 
describe to yon my seiis-.itiims for some (ime afier I had es- 
caped, for aNho' njiraealo.islt preserved myscli'. from what 
I had seen before i s^'ot out oi' (he house, and wha( I saw af- 
terwards. I was aj^ojiized under the coiivic(ion that a be- 
loved wife and cliild liad perished. Y(fU who are a hus» 
band and a parent, must if pOwSaibie liiilah the picture, 

I am sir. 

Your most obedient, 

EDMUND PENDLETON, Jr. 



u 



[22 1 

G. TTi'iitinj^fo!! Earcliws slaJes for (lie information and 
*t iiic iv*juo3( i'i LHi'. kiiU'h'iv, liiiit lie iv.iu his jiit ^'*''''^ 
iii die Ujiprr l)o is; JimJ lie vviih sr.iiuiiii,!:, in d.v box Vtkcro 
liis j;ui'<v was si liii.^, close So ilic iire place on the Ici'l of 
tiie Jlnadc. (h* t the iijsi lush.iu.ion iic iiicd of tl.t^ iirc was 
fiotji (iic two sjiaiKS, or ilakts of iiio, thut siiCteoi ('(SivaLU 
c«hoias lUvy IVll upon the stat;e. iVr. l^obcMson wa> llien 
on iiih iinecs lu'ToJe U;e j>o!l!ait of a boaiiiirs.i la(i,v. >>iii(:U 
Vas iej;resei.ied ii. on the ba* k or aHt r sci ne, and, as I 
suj;>(»sid, wat^ [n i''ur,mnL^ a j as 1 of Jiw punJc mime foi I 
L« ti!*(i no ex'. ian;ation oliii- , nt! A'icv iLe ^.arks foil. Mi\ 
Ja>bei*3son lutn lo(jktil oj , ami I think np(iv(ed iliat the 
ljo55se was i'j lUiuu*;. — ^i was then oeenjieci in deukinicg 
Miss >hiiia ^elMJn. l^Ii^is i\iaiy Pa^^e iUH! iVUs KlizabetU 
ieidleSon. bv pessnasi^ai IV nj rus!ilni>* into the pressing 
r.iui(i\u(!e ; pi.ink'd lo iLe s a<^e and in:'( r ed ll.eni liiat 
liiC ditJance was Sijciu (hai «Le fiic eonid nai pos^iblv ar- 
rive so as io i \jjire us in o.iireiieaU and iUvy would en- 
danj^er lhei5* lives by ll e opjueshicn oi (iie crowd — Misa 
I^eison aji(! Inhs iiu^e co:i<;ii5i(l wiib n;:' in Oi>iniv.n, 
rfiiss I endielon sitii^keM and was apjsaiently f.^inilin^' ,* I 
cangiil Ler, and rutbei* by stern advice and cauliojj wtiicU 
1 used, she reviyec', oi* {Tcoveied he:* facnities,] then Una* 
e<' t') Mioses Kelson rai.d I'aj^r, v/Ih* seemed very eaiiu 
and coileck'd ; at this i.s^saj.t Axiss IVndJeton fi rs; ok us, 
and (lie same njomcnl (he scenery descended in a t<'niblo 
biaze uDon the sta:;e ; we (lien iu^iran {>csili' to move out 
of the :)()X, and we had just raei'ged t'soin ;he dooj'. when it 
aijpeaied to u\\\ that (he most il* not aU the canopy or 
vault oi* ih^ theati'c fell in Vvith cO'^sidesahie noise lik© 
tiie rnsliins; oC flaJi^e, into th^ |>i{. oi* hung round the 
gallery a id upper boxes like eisriiuns — ! suppose it was 
one r.iinnte ftoni the sjaiks (o (he iuliin.q of scenery. 
1 did not look a;,uin t<>wards the staj^x. I n;0'*e(l 



in<Hiera(e]y forward n!)u;'l twelve or fil'teen feet toward 
tiie stairs, and the h.dies as I su exposed near nie. Thero 
v/asjust lipjht enough to si e hlatkness oT a M^ry dense 
smoke wliieli was ia-.id?y rnsjiinji; a d whirlinj^ over oui* 
beads; I heard tha bieakin.'; oi' a wind.ow. it s(rnck me 
foreiiily as a njost p»r!i?'«'{jt thou/,]it. Even here and ai thig 
mo\ner.l ! did 'K»f think there Avas p;rcat dai\;;ei' in pro- 
ceedi.i,^ the nsnal v/ ay out ofliu* tlseade, althouj^h 1 treni. 
bleu juaeii at lao aj^.j^aehensiou of ervoi* in tny taicula- 



[ 2S 1 

tio^ of sarcfy fvmn deliu — The conslriict?oii nw^ mnfc^l- 
als oK Uie bouse, 1 was v»itii oiYwrn i ,r.v)raMt o;*, bii iUq 
h^^lit[i\-ii^ v(^loc-i!y urUie 11a ue txhihiieci the Tiict that I was 
luistiikeu as to tlie coijipubiiioii, and 1 Ssvisibled, Tiie Vri i- 
il >w burst (hjMJuj^h, the aJi' reached uie, 't.vas ph*asa u. I 
>ivas widsia six (eet oi it, i turieci iivoivi itaeUy. I eau ^ht 
Ihe fiv^h bi'eezi's wiiieh eusfied in to |>!*o(!uee an iMjjiilibrL- 
iitn — (he iiaM)ean<l !to( smoke ortii!-;>cnliiie aisd ira'iiii reaeJi- 
ed aiy hair, my right eai*. and curled liju.ul my head.— 
I inhaled is my nose was binvil, aU reflex tion was selsish- 
iiess, 1 spranj^ fo tiie wind'jw avt! lea )ed about IZ icct 
from the house and about 30 feet iVoiii tiic ^liiund. 



Sm-^'^Xyseira^^d dau Jitcr set In Uiq lef! front box on 
ihe second seat from ihe jdt dui'i'u; the pe? fonvianee. and 
at the moment t!ie a<t()r wa^ l^n^eUa^- to the p s'tiait, I 
saw several s!>a5'ks of (ire uill o;i ' '\e st:t^e neue ttse ac- 
tor — Tlies'e liei^i,^ a .general motion (liroa^lio !t (be house, 
a voice was hearc! saving-. •• kee > your seats. thev<^ is no 
dan'^er.^' whlc'i causvd a dt lay amots;^ niany — and I a?ixi- 
ousiy lookiuf^ fro i* whence tlje simvks proceeded, discover- 
ed the upper part of tlie seeiiej'y on fne, and a.t the sauie 
instant the er\ oT lire be^ amc f^eneraL an.] every [^ersoa 
a'lirncd crowded fs'o :n tl^ir bows in sick conTusion, t'lit 
there was no possi'jili^v of our escapini::^, and tu5-ni'i.i^ round 
to view the isi-e, saw one oi* the actors tea!*i 1.4; down t!ic 
Bcenerv — :>nd still thinking" it was«?nly tise sfcnery on rlsej 
felt not the least a!iirned. — Dn looki-uj^ round in the fjox- 
es and pit. I coiild csi^Hcovcr bst verv fi-w :>eo')le« and those 
^vei'e a'! nea • :s - on a-'*c;>n it of the vas' number crov* 1- 
i!!S^ '^r the stairs caised oirs^a\. and we bein.!^ hindmost 
and aU on a sudden the staircase fi;avc wa\ wi(!a tlie crowd, 
and left us alone— th.at moLr.pnt the ssn^ke rushed np with 
suc>i heat, we con id scarv*c!y i^i^A breath, and on furnini^ 
round to j^et breath, discovered fresh air. wh!ch I fortu- 
nately found proceeded from a window, it bein'^ so very 
dark it was impossible to see — noi'corild ^^e hear any per- 
son near us ^vain the ti.ne we left tite stairs, unfiS we des- 
eended the window. I put iny daM':;:)Jer out of th.e win- 
dow, and immediately followed mvse!'' — s!ie was fortunate- 
ly caught by some gentle Juan, and escai)cd miliai't, aiid 



r\ft 



[ n-3 

InTfclfbu* s1i,'rli<ly« One of (lie jTCntlemen sjirsbe is very 
cej Jain Jt.cre v»us t '>ne eaii.e on! ufier uts (hi cj.j^h (iiv iVoiit 
vifulows. atnl in less than ten luinuCcs a'tiev we left, th» 
flames rushed out of (he Wkndows. Ail ihose (luit fell 
with (lie stall* ease iiras( nearh have e->i;iie(l with (iie 
6!«ioke a( (he tiiiie, as (he smoke was exceshivelj feeveie. 
3 lieai'd iieiiher si.^^ii nor i;roaa nttere;! from any one of 
llie.it. It is my opiiioii had <he people h\ (he lower hox- 
e.-' .:;'0t dt)W!3 in (he r/i' a;ul passed oul of (he west side, it 
\v'0!iM eer'aiiil^ ha'.e givesi roon- lor (he iipjier boxes, and 
bj tiiaJ mea»:s al'nosi every houI w«udd have been saved. 
1 am jours vviLi sincere reswet, 

JEliEDIAII ALLEX. 



Dear Sit* — What I know eor>crri^ini^ that des(ri!C(ive> 
lire, froiii actual ohseivanen, is. al^hou.^h limited, very 
corre«'(, haviuj^ had n^» particular relaiive (o protect ; 
every ohjeot of disdcss. thit- cane within my observan.c© 
fiijni the be:^iinitij;^ fo i:3e er.d is as clear!} befyre my tuind^s 
eye now as it was a5 ihe ssisrortuiratc crisis. 

I told you, (hat Mr. G. and tnyself were waikin.ci; up 
the hill, not more (lian (vve»i(y or thirty peiches fro.u (he 
theatre, whe i tlic firrf* Hash apj.eared — he ra;» frantic to 
the pri>tecti,>i of his wife and child ; !, coolly and dcli- 
berati'ly to that of a^ wishin my power — (he first 1 liehekl 
in distress riveted va\ hole atlmrion — at (lie norih west 
window in (he IVo'il i>r (he i'lLeatre. a ^luniher ofladies ap- 
peared, mi)s( oT whsse faces i knew — ! called to them to 
J!i;np out, they did and were all sa\ n! — even from a bro- 
ken bone. ye( some -ami&a i ijnred !)y the ilames^ — :<Ii*s, 
Mcllae aid Mrs Fi' kett were nndouhtcdly the two last 
who esc^p'd fram 5 > ' r-!« !^. 

Tiie fomale pa".- of Mr. S'ielnrJs* fiaily with 
many ^nore had b^cn received Ijs'j'ore nni »jiired — iU!io' 
frefpient'y kno-ked down, I received all Ihii huU'\>i i'ro n 
thai wl j<}ow anfl na ■ mn cv^'r assisted oie oT (iie u. If 
it were necessary ! ctr-^ld bt^ partiinlar in Mrs. l^icxMt's 
case — -IS she sulfen il .t?i>rc fi'.> n nrsf'cli i,:^ me i (hai aiy 
lady I saw — is soon as s i j; -v is s-ife, i ran !N)nM 1 t'le b liM- 
inu; to see iPaiy bi> ; ' tls ' cm J 1 ?)c save 1 — I saw (!r.it all 
"wiltti I were \i>'<\ mvMd'Mfio s ,vas ilvv; li*a v i to tne (lujVf 
near which 1 liad aion'l rcoiii the K>ej^iaflia^ 3 there the- 



[ 25 3 

tjlaekcned and lifeless bodies of many Svlio arc now in a 
fairway of reeovcrv, were trodden down by a gaping niul- 
titiide — .1, with the assi'^tanee of a few wliom I do not re- 
eoileet, dragged out many ap|:>ia*ent!y dead — among wjiojn 
were Miss Davis a'id Mr. TiiHii, and Avitii Capt. Iletli, 
carried olf the unfortunate Miss Ilarvie ; these were all 
the bodies I reeo.i^nized, the last of whom appeased most 
likely to live ; for the could speak, but tlie others, al- 
tho' not much damaged externally, were apparently life- 
less. 

The most pleasing part of my life was that which I 
spent in the act of preservation, but tl«e most melancholy 
in assisting the preserved and seeking tiie lost — ^vou saw 
part of tlrat yojjr8elf. 

Your friend and servant, 

D. BOYLE. 



Sir — In compliance with your request, I send you a 
brief statement of the little to which 1 was an eye witness 
in tlie late disastrous fire at the Theatre. I was at the 
head of the brick-row, on my v, ay from the play, when I 
heard the first cry of fire — without any other delay than 
was occasioned by aiding in drawing the fire engine about 
10 or 15 yards, I hastened to the Theatre door. Mr. 
Allen I'a^^ior had just come out, and Mrs. Gibbon was 
standing still immediately within, apparently in a state of 
stupefaction— I drew her through the door and proceeded 
on to the partition door where the checks were received 
. — between these doors I met several men and women 
making their way out — In my progress to the stair-case, 
I saw no person of any description — .but along the stair8 
from the first landing place lay a number of women on 
their faces, side by side, their heads towards the floor. 
They were all apparently liteless — and their clothes were 
in the greatest disorder* 

My lirst impulse was to take up one of the smallest — In 

•arryiug her to the outer door I met no one but two 

men there received her. Three or four gentleujcn who I 
presume, had been before employed in taking out the fe- 
Diales afterwards came in, and lost no <imein removing 
tlie other ladies. They were all carried as far as the 
door, and tliera they were received and bonis cITby others. 

X). 



[ 26 ] 

t lliink that Mv, .TolinG. Smith and jMr. Alexr. Sliarp of 
this town were two of those who were in the liouse with 
me and were very active. I distinctly recollect what I 
saw when I first went in, hut the horror of the spectacle 
which presented itself to my eyes on the stairs, (unap[)riz- 
ed as I was until then that I had not met the last of the 
audience,) makes my recollection very confused of what 
passed afterwards. I am however confident that all those 
who had reached the lower flight of the stairs were rescu- 
ed from the flames, and I flatter myself that they are now 
living. Mr. Smith and Mr. Sharp, and probably one or 
two others, can vouch for the same fact. 
Your*s 6ic. 

G. TUCKER. 



H E P O U% 

Of the Committee of Invefiigation, 
December 30, 1811. 



Wc the Committee, appointed by our fellow citizens <' to 
enquire into the causes of the melancholy catastrophe," 
which took place in this city on Thursday night last ; a ca- 
tastrophe which has spread a gloom over a whole city, and 
filled every eye with tears ; have given to this melancholy 
duty all the attention in our power. — We feel it due to our- 
selves ; it was due to our weeping fellow-citizens ; it was 
due to the world to collect all the lights which might serve 
to elucidate an event whose effects are so deeply written 
on oiir heai-ts. We have seen every person who Avas be- 
hind the scenes, that was best able to assist our enqui<^ 
i'P3S — v/e have heard their statements, and after sifting 
them as accurately as possible, beg leave to submit the 
following report to our afllicted citizens : 

On the nvjihi of Thursday last, the Pantomime of ^« The 
Bleedini*' iSun. or, A'^-nes and Kavmond,'* came on for re- 
presentation after the play was over. In the first act, 
among other scenes, Avasthe scene of the cottage of Bap- 
tist tJiC Hcbher, Avhich was illuminated by a chandelier 
apparently ha*i,^ing from the ceiling. When the curtain 
lell on the iiibt act, aud before it rose on tli© second, this 



[27 ] 

chandelier was lifted from its position among the scenery 
above. It was fixed with two wicks to it ; one only of 
them had been lit; yet when it was lifted above, this fatal 
lamp ivas not extinguished. Here is the first link in the 
chain of our disasters ! The man who raised it, does not 
pretend to deny it — but pleads that he did so in consequence 
of an order from some person, whom he supposed autho- 
rised to direct him. That person was behuidhim; the 
voice had reached him without his seeing the person, and 
he does not pretend positively to recognize him. We have 
not the most distant idea that there was the slightest 
mischievous intention in the order or in the act — it was 
inattention — it was the grossest negligence. The lifter of 
the lamp says that he was av/are of the danger, and re- 
monstrated against tlie act ,• yet yielded with too fatal a fa- 
cility to the reiterated ordei's of a person whom he saw 
not, but supposed authorised to direct him. We cast not 
the slightest imputations upon the Managers, or any of 
the regular Comedians of the stage — their positions at th 
moment as well as other circumstances, forbid the idea 
that the order ever passed from their lips ; yet the act 
was done. Tiie lighted lamp was liiied — the torch of des- 
truction gleamed at the top of the stage. 

Mr. Kiee (the property-man of the Theatre) says, that 
he saw the scene was o\er in wiiicli the lamp was used ; 
he saw the lamp after it was lifted up ; he was aware of 
the danger of its remaining in that position ; and spoke 
to one of the carpenters, three times repeatedly, «' Low- 
er that lamp and blow it out." lie did not see it put out ; 
for he was drawn by his business to another part of the 
stage. 

Mr. West declares that he was passing by to commence 
the 2d act of the Pantomime, and saw tJie lamp up and 
heard Rice giving directions to the carpenter to extinguish 
it. 

Mr. Cook (the regular carpenter of the Theatre) de- 
clares that he saw tfje carpenter alluded to above, attempt- 
ing to let down the lamp immediately after ihe oi'der to 
let it down had been given ^ that he lias no doubt this at- 
tempt was made in consequence of the order ; that he saw 
the cords tangle and t!ie lamp to oscillate severa] inches 
from its perpeiidicular position. The chandelier above 
was 'uoved by two cords which worked over two pulleys, 



.^ •^ ■-■^ 



[ ^8 ] 

inserled in tlic eolIav-beajTi cf ihe roof; ami tlic straight 
line iVo III iliC bicp.in io tlsi; lamp ^vas, 3ir. Cook thinks, 
about 14!? OP IB feet. Thus soiue idea may be iiad of the 
degree of oscilhi5iu:i. 

Mr. Aiulorson, (one of the Perfijrir.crs of the Theatre,) 
says, ihiit lie liad remaiked, even beloie the re]>]'eseu- 
tation, how unskUfiilly the ehandelier ]jad played; and 
that an attempt to move it had caused it to ride circularly 
around. 

Mr. Yore [anoilier of tjie workmen of the machinery,] 
most conclusiveiv eonihrais this statement. He saw, tliat 
in the attempt to lower the lamp, as it was ]ierched amon|^ 
the scenery, the carpenter had railed in liis effort ; that 
lie then jerked it. and jostled It ; that it was thus swerved 
from its pcrpcndieulai* attitude, and brought into contact 
with the lower part of one of the front scenes. Tlie scene 
took fire ; the flame rose, and tapering ahove it to a point, 
must have reached the roof, which was elevated 6 or 7 
feet only above the top of the scene. 

We wert' assured, that there was not one transparent 
scene hanging; that is, a scene coated Avith varnish and 
extremely c< iubustsblc — thai there was only one paper 
scene hanging, Y»likh Mr. Utt the l^rompter declares, 
was removed 6 or. 8 feet hehi^jd the lamp. Thirty five 
scenes were at that moment hanging, exclusive of the flies 
or narrow borders which repiTseiit the skies, roofs, &c. — 
all of these .Si were canvass paintings : AvhieJi thougli not 
extremely coni])ustibie on the jrainted side, arc on the other 
so well covered with the fibres of the hemp, as to catch 
the ilame. 

Efforts were made to extinguish iliv flame. Mr. Cook, 
the carpenter, ascended into the carpenter's gallery ; but 
in vain. He did succeed in letting down some of the 
scenes upon tlie floor, under an idea that this was the sur- 
est means of extinguishing tlie flame ; but he could nof 
ilistinguish the cortls of the scene that Avas on fire. The 
roof soon eaugbt, and the sense of danger compelled him 
to fly for his life. 

The cdmmiUee must noAv be under the necessity of 
draAving the attention of our felloAv-cirizens.^to the cAcnts 
which lock place in front of the curtain. Mr. West states 
that immediiuely on {;is entering the stage to go on Avith 
his part, he heard so)n« bustle behind the scenes^ Avhich 



[ 29 3 

lie eonceivcd to be a mere fracas — tlie erj of « fire'* then 
saluted bis ears, wbieb gave bim no serious apprebensi- 
ons, as be knew tbal little accidents of this description bad 
often taken place ; <bat be beard some \ oices exclaim, 
<^ don't be alarmed," >vhicb exclamation be repeated 
tbrougb a solicitude to prevent burrj and confusion ; that 
be bad not at tbat moment seen any flakes of lire fail be- 
bind tbe scene 5 but seeing them at length falling from tbe 
roof, lie retired behind tbe scene and found tbe whole 
stage enveloped in flames ; when finding it unavailing, 
be attempted to make good bis own retreat. 

Mr. Uohertsonf who was the only performer besides, 
tbat came before the audience, assured tbe committee, 
that at tbe moment when he first discovered the flame, it 
was no longer than his bandlverebief ; that be repaired 
immediately to the stage, as near the orchestra as he could 
come : ** there be conveyed to tbe audience, not wishing 
to alarm them, by gesticulation to leave tbe bouse ; tbat in 
the act of doing thai, be discoveicd tbe flames movisig ra- 
pidly, and then be exclaimed, '< Tbe bouse [or tbe Thea- 
tre] is on fire ;" tbat be went din ciiy (o the stas^e box, 
where some three or four ladies were sitting, emreating 
them to jump into his arms ; tbat he could save them by 
conveying them through tbe private stage-door ; and tbat 
lie still entreated, until be found it necessary to make bis 
own escape ; tbat his own retreat b^ the private door was 
intercepted by the flames : tbat be found it ne' essary to 
leap into tbe stage box, and join the general crowd in tbe 
lobby ; tbat be gained one of the front windows ; assisted 
in passing out some ten or twelve feniales, but at last 
found it necessary to (brow himself from tbe window." 

1 his narrative is due to (he exertions of a .gentleman, 
who first sounded tbe alarm ; and to whom there are a 
few who have not done tiiai justice which he deserves. — 
liCt us now return to tbe tsa-Esniis-ion of the fire ; where 
the point of flame reached I he roof. The roof was unfor- 
t!:'»alely not plastere<i aiid sealed ; there was a sbeating of 
plank, pine plank we are told, nailed over tbe rafters, 
and over tiiese, the shingles. The lozirs of tbe pine bad 
perha|>s oozed out ol' tlie plank, through the heat of our 
summer's sun, and stood in dropsupon it. Yet however this 
may have been, no sooner did the spire of ilio Hajiie reach 
tbe roof than it caught. The iire Bj[>vtud vtilU a rabidity 



C 50 ] 

I 

thro' this combustible material, unparalleled, certainly ne- 
ver equalled by any of the loo numerous fires Avhieh have 
desolated our city — In four or five minutes at least, tlie 
>vhole roof was one sheet of Jlames — It burst through the 
jbuUs-eyc in front — it sought the windows where the rare- 
fied vapour sought its passage ; fed by the vast column of 
air in the hollows of a Tiieatre, fed by the inflammable 
pannels and pillars of the boxes, by tlie dome of t!ie pit, 
hy the canvas ceiling of tlie lower boxes, until its suffoca- 
ted victims in the front were wrapt in its devouring flame, 
or pressed to death under the smouldering ruins of th« 
building. 

Here we must pause in our melancholy task. We have 
traced the conflagration to the fatal lamp, lifted as it was 
lit, then jerked and jostled out of its perpendicular positi- 
on, to the scenery — to the roof 5* until every thing was en- 
veloped in its fury. But there is one part of the subject 
which, though it does not fall strictly within the letter of 
the Resolution, or perhaps the line of our duty, is yet too 
interesting to be passed over. "Why, this fatality 9 Why 
Lave so many victims perished on this melancholy occasi- 
on ? It cannot be said it was the combustibility of the 
building and the rapidity of the fire, great as they undoubt- 
edly were, which altogether produced this mortality of 
the species — for we cannot believe if large vomitaries had 
been erected for the passage of the crowd, if there had been 
doors enough to admit them that more than onC'tenlli of 
an audience should have perished on the occasion. 

It was in the opinion of the committee, this ill construc- 
tion of the Theatre itself, which was principally its cause. 
How numerous were the occasions on which it had long 
before been said, as the crowd was slowly retiring at the 
end of a play : " Suppose the house were on fire, what 
should we do ?''— Yet we slept with too fatal a security 
over the evil — we trusted and we are ruined. New doors 
were not opened ; the winding stair-case was not strait- 
ened, the access to the avenves of the Theatre was not 
wilarged. 

Even the relicts of our fellow •citizens as they lay, 
pointed out the causes of this fatality. They ^weie found 
strewed in heaps at the foot of the narrow stair case 
which lead from the boxes — and though with less profu- 
sion, on the ground immediately under tlie lobby of ih% 



f SI ] 

t)oxei above, ft'om which lobby their retreat down the 
stairs had been iiitereepted by the crowd which choaked 
thein up. On that fatal night there were in the pit and 
boxes 518 dollar tickets, and SO children — exclusive of 50 
persons who were in tlie galleries. Of these 598 had to 
pass tlirough one common avenue, and although all the 
spectators in the pit may have escaped, except a few who 
may have jumped into the boxes, yet the crowd in the 
lower and upper boxes had no other resource than to press 
through a narrow angular stair-case, or to leap the win- 
dows. The committee not being particularly conversant 
with the construction of Theatres, have requested Mr. 
Twaits, one of the managers of this Theatre, to furnish 
us with his ideas on the subject* He has favored us with 
a statement Avhich we beg leave to incorporate with our 
report, in the words following, to wit : 

** By the lequell of the Committee of Enquiry into the caufc of the 
late dreadful calamity at the theatre on the night of the 26th inftant, I 
aiTert that the iofs of fo many valuable lives, and the diftrefs which is 
felt by all on the occafion, is wholly attributable to the conftruction of 
the late theatre and its materials. 

** In all theatres, that I have seen, except the late one, there have 
been three distinct and separate doors of entrance — one to the Boxes, 
^ne to the Pit and one to the Gallery. The late Drury-Lane Theatre 
fead in the centre of each side a spacious hall, with broad and ftraight 
ftair cases, which ter:T;inated In the lobbies of the Boxes; three entran- 
ses to the Pit, one in the front and one on each side j and four entran- 
ces to two Galleries, two on each side. These avenues were firm and 
eoinmodious, and in their construction prefented every facility for ef- 
cape, when any danger affailed the audience. Miferable reverfe! In the 
late Richmond Theatre, but one entrance to the Boxes and Pit, and 
chat so narrow, that two perfons could fcarcely pafs at the fame time— 
the way then lying through a gloomy paflage to a narrow winding 
Ifcair cafe which terminated in as narrow a Lobby.— —It is, there- 
fore, evident, that this ever to be lamented Iofs, which has at once 
deprived your city of fome of its brighteft ornaments, and defo- 
lated many families, is wholly attrioutable to the mal-conftruction of 
the late Theatre, which certainly offered no means of fpeedy efcape. 
The rapidity of the conflagration mull have been caufed by the unfin-. 
ifhed state of the building, there being no plaftered ceiling or wall to 
prevent the communication of flame.'* 

The committee cannot close their melancholy labours 
without expressing one hope, that irreparable as our own 
calamities have been, we may not have suffered altogether 
in vain, tbat our own misfortunes may serve as beacons to 
the rest of our countrymen ; and that no Theatre should 
be permitted to be opened in the other cities of the United 
States, until every facility has been procured for the es* 
oape of the audienc*. 



ORDINANCES. 

On the ?7(h of Dec. the Common Council of tlie city of 
Richmond, assembled and passed an order authorising Di*. 
Adiims, Ml'. Willig^m Ilaj. Mp Raiston and Mr Gam- 
ble to collect and deposit the remains of the unfortunate 
sufferers, in sucli urns, coffins, or other suitable inclo* 
sures as thej shall think fit, and have them conveyed to 
the public burial j^round with the solemnity due to th© 
occasion. On tlic 28th it was represented to the Presi- 
dent and Council, that the remains of the devoted vie* 
tims couhl not conveniently be removed to the public 
burial i^ro'iad, whei'cfoi'C it was ordered that tlie relics 
sliouh! all be interred ia the place wliere they fell, and 
that the ground should be purchased and appropriated 
accordingly. Moreover, it was ordered, <* tliat the city 
Constable communicate to the citizens, that it is earnestly 
recommended, that they will abstain from all business 
for the space of fo?ty~eight hours after the passing* of the 
ordinance, that tlie Wednesday foUowinji; should be ob- 
served as a day of humiliation and prayer ; and that no 
shows, plays, piH[)iic balls or assendjlies should be exhi- 
bited withisi the city for the space of four months/* 

Sini'.lar orders nnd resolutions were passed by the peo- 
ple aiii i!ie Co isf;tuted authorities in Norfolk, Petersburg, 
Frederic Usburg, and most of tlie principal towns of Yir- 
giaia- Ihe i^Kecutivc passe 1 a resolution expressive of 
their sorrow for tlie loss of their beloved Governor, as 
•weli as fir that of their other fellow citizens. Congress 
followed thcii* example. Upwards of 100 ^ledical Stu- 
dents froai this state, assembled in Philadelphia, put on 
the weeds of woe, and prepared to honor the manes of 
their brothers and sisters : tiie youn.ijc .gentlemen of the ci- 
ty caught the sympathetic flame, and requested to parti- 
cipate in the mournful iirocession, they were admitted, and 
bewailed t!ie fate of those whom they never knew ; but 
than wliom, tfiey never can know characters superior. 

The young gentlemen of the Navy paid appropriate 
honors to tlie mevaorv of their beloved fellow soldier, 
Lieut. Gibbon : ])oor lelioAV ! his Aite was a peculiar one ; 
so was that of the dear partner of his fate—-** recpiiof'CdiH 
in puce," ' , 



t ss f 

ir» THE CITIZEVS OF B/rjnf'»A'». 

In the sincerity of afflicted miids, a>i<I deeply wonndecl 
lie.tn!!, peiMiit. us in express the au,^ius}i whicli we f*'el 
foi' the late drea.l'ul cala-iiity, of which we cannot hit 
cosisider ourselves the in locent ca ise. Fro ii a lihei'al 
a id eidi.^htencd conniiunily we fear no reproaches, hut 
Me as'e conscious that many liave t(»(i much cause to wisti 
they had never known us. To theii* neivy we a,ipeal for 
foi',^lveness, not for a v-riiue coaimitted, hut for one which 
couhl not be prevented. Our own loss cann be esii* 
mated hut by ourselves— *tis true, (with one exceptitii,) 
we have not to lament toe loss of life— hut we have lost 
our friends, our patrons, our property, and in part, our 
Iio nes Nor is this all our loss-In this miserab c calamity 
>V8 Tilda seitence of banishment from your hospitahle 
city No niort; do we ex^ject to feel that .i;low of pleasure 
wiich pervades a ^^rateful heart, wlsileit receives favours 
lib 'rally^hestowed. Never a.^ain shall we behold that fe» 
miniue hiiuiauity which soea,^;erly displayed itself to sootha 
the viciiui of disease, nrr view with exultation the beue» 
vol('nt w 1 1 fostere 1 tiie fatherless, aid shed a ray of co a- 
foi't on the demrting soul of a dyiuj^ mother. Here th«i| 
W#c»ase — the eloquence of Grief, is Silence^ 



James Ko.se, 
Hopkins H.ohertson% 
Cna-i, ronnjj;^ 
Ciiarles ihiraiiaif 
W -I, Tivaits* 
Thos. Caidfipi'U 



WUliam Jlnderson^i 
7 ho mas Hurkep 
A. Pla*'ide, 

miu iJiark^ 



iw 



ly^TEliMEYT OF THE DE iJ>. 



T!ic arran^^ements for this melancholy occasion eouti 
Hf>t ') ' vjomdeted bt^foi'C Sundav— ..iid as the ^dact"! of ia» 
te/ i^nt hdd bven chaa^el frjm t:ie Church to the aresi 
fjVf'iM'e tlidi Tiieatre sto)l,to that fatal and d^^voted a^ji^ 
V.i^ fuiicral prof-essio.i did not m »ve as was ori^i'mllv coi« 
t3 a )l,i evl hy the C )m nittee, frj ii the iii)list \Iaeti:i»« 
il Mi,;% ic ic thd riieati'e, where t!ie relics lay. t.» ta0 



4 »* J 

]^ i>. J atteison li > — ill iioiii, \Lv Li I J t-t — {\ i It <l.( { liT* 
|,>— LitiUift in laiiii^^i'fe- liit- l,xti liiivt i-iiuii(il — LiMc- 
li>!» oi* Hit* Jb;a; k — i\»iii»biis of iha Lt^isluluiit' — iK« 
C(H<ii of liusun,;^h— » ouiiuon lial!— Ciii/tiis, on t'ooi 1^.1 d 

cij> iiorse bui'k- >\hv ^raiul tlu' leu^tb aiid ^oKii.iiifjt of 

thr line ? 'llif^ iiiovvcl up itie main hirtel in til Ujtjf 

•truck tije i-i-^ss slieet leading to tiie bank — t»ere iUvf 

Veie joji;e(l by the Covpise ot poor JM/iuita hurrit^ vko' 

rxj/iifd at hrr broUu r jn la\v's- the Casbier of Jbe lianiv— 

Hay moved up the Caj iiol Bill, and at Ibe Capiiol vt i*© 

joined by the bearers of two Iaij;e maliogany boxes, in 

vhieb Mere ereio^ed the asbes and i*eiics of the deceui-rd. 

•ibe mouinful procession tben moved to ♦• <be dexoud 

•pot ;" and in I be eenhe of the area wbere onee su od 

tLe pit, tbese precious irlies were buried in one eoUiUioti 

grave. 'Ibe service for the dead was read b> the Kevd., 

l^iV, Buchanan- — 1 lie wJioU^ scene defies desri|;tion A' 

%^holecity bathed in leais ! — ■ — liow awful the transition 

en ibis devojedspor ! — \ lew (iays since, it was the ibea* 

Ire of j« y and merriiiient— aiiin.aied by tbe sound of uju*. 

•ic and the bum t»f a deJi^iited ukuiiitude. Jt is now a fun 

Deral pyre ! tbe receptacle of tbe relics of our friends '— * 

«,ndin:i^hort time a monument will ki^nd upon it t«» pomi 

out wiictc tiieir a«ut}i lay ! 



A LIST OF DEAD. 

Sfargaret Audi rsoDf Jj Mrs. Convert and chile!, 

s Milliani Cook a&ll 

ll^deline Bausman, daugh-I} daugbter. 

; ter of Mrs. iiausnuut, S Margaret Copland^ 

Sdrs. 1 ayioe Braxton^ 1^ ('. Coutts, 

jBieiijaniin Boti* Wid Mi's. ^ FJvira Coutts, 

l>atts# S Anne Craig;, daugliteP of 

^ Mrs, Adam Craig. 

RTary Clay, > 

^il^, V^ftj Jf*'!!^ *> ^^^^* Mary Davis, 

^Ceor|j;e Di&ui); a yotttl^ 



f Si J 



MiM '•.llioff.ft-om N. Ke;;;. i 
l]iio;iiHs Krazer, ajouth, 

Gii'aiNJin and son, 
liooi'i't (ireeiiliowf 
lie 1 Mid, 

Sullj (jak'wood, 

Ai^ie ill Ten, 

l'u(>v Griilin, 

Jiioi^l. Jd.n^ Gibb( 







4^riana Huaier, 
Jirs. JerrmI, 



S 

S x^flrs. Elizabetli Pag% 

S Pictiit, 

S 

S Charlotte Raphael, 
^ Jeaa Babtible iiuzier, 

George W. Smitli, Govcrw 

vV'iilia If So"ith;5ate^, 



^ Cecelia Ti'oinu, 
Jilrzaijetli Jaeoirs, daughter s iOjiiri.v rroaiir. 



of Jose>)h Jacobs, 
Bai'racti Jud^h'* cUiid, 

JMrs* Laforest^ 

Liessssiie, 
Miss liittfepa^e, 
I'tioinab Leci'ois* 

Irlrs. Moss, 

C)H»''J'^» iMarksw wife 
Mordeeai Mav^k*^ 



Abrabasn B. VemlAt^ 
Piesidt'iit of the B.iaa* 



^ .^Irs Thomas Wileon, 
S Mary VVlUiSs>eii» 



^ Jaae Wiwle, 



> James Wahljn; 
S Jolui Welch, a sfran^«t||( 
of Ij kitely (Voai K<igjuud, aijf 
Nej)hew to Sir ^i. i^i-oi. 



ii.dw«trd vVautoiis 



Mr, Wm. Brown, "n. 

Mr. A. Mat shal of Wjthe, ^ 
Mrs. Patterson, J. 



Crushed ta dsdih^ 



On the 27th Dec. Miss Juliana Harvio, 
28fh, Mrs. Joh'i Bosher, 

29th Mr. K. ,T, ilarvie. 

' 5d Jan. 1812, Mr. Joha inaub, 

15Ul' Mrs. Scot:. 



• • 

PEOPLE OF COLOViL 

KoWrt Tenill, a mulattos pieasanJ. a mulatto moTr? art 

b<>>, S ht'lonj^inj^ to jVlr. Rose. 

Funnv OoflT, Ij Jajues b.dusonson, a nnilat- 

IBt'^srv Johnson, S to bo^, who died uiiic&. 



Vf *:- > 



u 




ND, Deecjjiher, 28. 




Yesterday sncTi of the rcni%OT^9|\^tl^^«iiB<^^'i«Hii 
feliow-^iiizens \\\\i) I<»sf their H^s in the conf!a1i:ra<ion of 
the llM-atre on 'lluiisdav nij^ht, were entombed on the sjot 
fvhere the diieiiil eaiastitj lie lia[|€r.€<!. A li^rpt r K;n-i 
course of peoph' attended on Uns melancholy occasion, thaa 
irt; recollieel ever to have seeii as&eiiibledin Ihis place. 



December Si» 

Testerday w'"# " a dav of humiliationand ]?iaTer/'— 
A"l 'he ^hops and stores were shut, the Rev. Mr. IJiiir 
|)i«a«hed at the church, afuueial seriiion. t\er\ i?lace 
oi: I ub'ic worship was opened. Mr. Sjjeece preached at 
th«' Capitol in the moinin^. Mr. Lpj^an in the'eveuini^. — ^ 
hlv Brice ar«d Mr Grigg at the Ba| tist n.eetir j; hiiise 
in the morning. Mr. Couitiuy at t!.e new Methoiiist 
Chiiirh in the morning — ard at the old one, Mr. Bollieu * 
in the morning and Mi. Mooie in the livening. l:.ver^ 
place was tilled to o\erilowJng. 



Casualties^, 

In f^P chapter of accidents, it is painful to be obTiced 
to n.ention tie t anse ol Mr. id aid J iJ)ie\. (ic (I tiie 
Uiost I I'on isirg liiciai^ chaiaciers in Virgii ia ; le vus 
in ihe upper tieroj bo>cs. and in the act ol assii-tirg ^( i. e 
ladies unkiio\wi to him. mLcu fhat destructive \ajoi;r, 
»)enti(ired in oiLm cen Uiunic afici s, ^rddei Iv issued \'n>m 
ijie ta^ttru ^art i>r lUe buUtiii j^— he ba» uo Hame^ ^et iii« 



f 3? 1 

fn?,f>i aT! 016 of liis l»ai(r^ Uxvi* Ue&.i d^-' y^ '' ""'■^ 'Vt^ 
«.f.(f..'U jU'jI lo save hi.iisv^Si' by Tie stairs ; H-j? i 

siivweti by the ') kUcs of sirosnate 1 la 1^ 
•«){>. lej' thai! i^ij life the ii wlVa his See^, s'u* vv j ii:i(,?'Ui«, .i;3 
faJe to e'iance. a s>l auiJoHi i^ly jii a jed ( ;^- of ;m > )f 
the Ujjpei' wsJii'ii^V") — 'lis li.'t^ is, lUa'ik U^'JiL ; rd. 

fcas 5»»ilfered severely, ai J indeed. s(i13 s hfvi's. 

:Dc. ^leoa\v*s sifna^io i is tri'y d-' >n*\^ )3 -. as well o^ 
acc'jiiat of (lis ow.i ui iiil^, as (!iat of tiie jojr unrarru la-e 
«iiderers oa that oeea^iri — Isis as-istau o a a jhysieia?! 
aid as a fj^ieiid, would hav^* been a »aS is ? j J he woes of 
many; it may not -Iw de uied jjresu it:)ii<i i ri sayiM^;. in 
the loss of his aiti, so^nv lives have bee » los*. Tae i^ij '.«'J3» 
he has reeeived is not i icin"a!>le, but ii is s::;!i as o leu- 
tralise his usr^ul seeviees (or a !:>i;^ S: ae ; al'sei* 
havin,i^ exerted iiis streai^th, for (lie ^a^Vfy of hie f)oors;j*» 
feri ij^ ladies witiiia his reach, when all oj ;jre hi«iise!f, 
he precipitated hi»aseli* from the window, (say 2t) feet 
hii^ii,) his whoie weight cojnioi; on fiis ri^;!il l •^, so lace- 
rated the muscles, as to fa!ise him to iuui ,i,ie for aowm 
time that his thigh was broken. 

Many persons had their liubs fraetur?'d, ;• td so!ne were 
severely burnt ; yet most of thi'm are now e:? a fair waf 
of recovery Mr. John Richards, in es; a< inj:^ throuijjb 
a window, fraetnred a limb ; Mr. Samuel D>er nset witJi 
a similar accident; Cas'ter B. Page also escaped with a 
hroken leg; Mrs. Hatcher of Manehestei*. iveeived consi- 
derable i'ljnry tVosn a fracture. To eninnerase all the ac« 
cidents, would at present be exceeding the 'irisits which wg 
have j)rescribed for ourselves on the present occasion. 

In order to refresh the mind after this lis:; jbrions nar- 
rative, we give an account of a few hair-br adfh escapes 
made by some of our ladies, taken from a genileman who 
has conversed with thejn si see tlieiv escape. 

Mrs. McRae miraculously escaped without the assis- 
tance of any person witiiin ; she wandend iibont in thd 
dark over seats and benches ; she thinks soniejiai* 
la the pit, she afierwards ascended the boxes ; she could 
n dlher see nor feel any pei'son ; her senses were nearly 
cxhalisted, when part of the bnildin?^ fcil, ai I j^ave her 
light to see a passage tlirough the w5;hIow ; Kr;e was then 
V\ the lobby, and meeting with no ob^triicSion. threw her. 
8'd Tout head foremost, and v.as rortuaatdy received witjjw 
l>ut suffering any mulerial ii^jury. 



f s« j 

!P[cr si^t^r Miss Delia liaves was savrd hy ihelfijivr r^ 
featioti of Mr. Thoinas I'lan ibon. wLo had anoihii* ;»»ii!jjg 
hiHy iiudt'r Iiis protei^tiiin, whom he let down Iroiii a win^ 
(iow ; he pushed I>iiss Mayes over (he ohstri.tting eiowd^t 
Mie iVll in the pass.tji;e, was tiodcien down lor soiiie time^ 
liui hv tlie assisUiiue ol* a i;enUeinan ai the landing, wan, 
piilh'd from the lalien. and i'oiluijatelv leseued uiJiitii.— * 
Jiibseii. McMurdo and Green, bustled th< ir \va;v 'till 
they ajiived at the inner door, wiion Miss i\icMui(io, be* 
ii\^ ne.\t to it, aud havinfi; |M)or Miss Green by the hufKU. 
Vt^s seized herself by sonte body outside, who pulled hep 
i>ikU iii>d by the violenee oT his exertion, she lost her hold 
oj Miss Green, who was sliil ab](i* to ery out, •» ah f 
ilon'l have me ;'' a volley of vapour at that time rusljed 
i;*['oi« that door to tiie outer door, so thick* that nol)ody 
e©ul(^ sAand there, and m;^ny had fallen ; it is ima.^ine(£ 
that Miss Green, with some moie in that darkness, mis- 
si?d the door asid fell, and eould not receive timely relier^ 
IJliss Gouch also, without any particular protector, encaji* 
ed unhurt, one of the last ; being a delicate young ladyj^ 
stie was several limes thi'own ba<;k by iiihuman seltislju 
iiicu ; she ri!mily, when almost exhausted, made a d spe- 
ralc eiTiirt, and was like the rest, caught uniujuied 5 s^li^^ 
liaving near a mile to walk, would not admit of the ati* 
tendance of any person, seeing so iiiany objects in dis- 
IresH, who had a greater claim to assistance than she had |^ 
bot before she went far she was m'ar falling a victim to^ 
lier humanity, fur, from the great exertions of body and| 
ipiud necessary to her preservation — her spirits failed, her^ 
and she must have lain probably lifeless, in the stue^ 
tliaX night, had not a gentleman fortunately seen Uer, and[ 
oXtcJ* reviving her. brought her home. 

Mr. L. 11. Gii'ardin. who has lost an affectionate a.iiiaide: 
>viie, and a son whose dawn jiromised a bright day, had* 
left the Theatre in company with Mr. Doyle, just a.fe^sV 
liaomentg before the lire commenced. He had left his wif0f> 
and son with several of their male and female relatives, be-i, 
caust^ an acute complaint did not allow of his being eo liin- 
ed in a box. In the course of the first piece, he had b»-en. 
ualking or standing in various jjarts of the house: just 
\vhen the pant(»mime was about to begin, he observed 'ai*. 
dear boy asleep in his mother's arms, urge I his earn i 145; 
Ijgyt^ UiWe-^'ii Coo iudul^idty foud jmotUei' vbjctled— -Ui4i i 



( 89 > 

tli^ poor cliiHlvas still asltep, when the liorrid alanvj ap» 
|)alied e>er> lieai'5 ! Mrs. (x s brotlu'r, urjdev \vh a he [ro- 
te i\nn she more espet ially ^vsls, did evu r thiiiix ^^^ eould 
to save her aiid liei' <'hi!d ; vai!i, iVu i { Iei;s effbi'ts ! 1 wle© 
she was torn (Vosu hw beloved bo,i — ?vviee slje i-iihhid (o 
reeover lii:H, The second lime her brolhei^^as irvehiCibly 
se:?u!*a(ed iVonj he:-; he saw her no njote, an 1 was luii- 
liialrly eom|>elie(5 I)}' thr appeoaj'hiisi^ llatnes lo jiim|> out of 
a window. 'i'huK i( appears tUut this excellent !ady feil a 
vieiin lo ^nafernal ove! She would not br skived without 
liei* darlsn,:r hoy. arjd !)oth were losl ! O God I tht^ heai't 
of a moUu'i' is thy ma^tee |>ieee ! As to Mi. Ui?ardir», 
tae iiioment he saw t e fiauies, lie i'U!?he<i buck ioto The 
b'>use ; fou d (he first passa!:;e aiiuosl e a, Jy ; hi'^^ught 
o\it Oi' tise house a iV'vsah' v. iion! iw roun 1 in a state of 
di*ti'aetion, near t\w box wh«'!e tiekets were taken in- 
iiide ; returned, entered the cireu ar i>assa;.,e, ar^d had 
reached the foot of ?h.e fatal stair-ease* vvli^n husjjing ru- 
ins fell d<)wn with !M.erid e!'a>-h ; voiuiL!.es of sufroeatiss^ 
"Vapour rolled on ward'* : lurid f^auies dasted through them ; 
be with the fituios^ d ^^^u'tr i-^'r* -jfed ; \\as, in hii^ ie- 
t real, (grasped b; a haif prostrate fi'inale, v^houi he raised 
a >d brouj^hl 05!t ; he riturntd io Hht' I iekei door ; aSas ! 
destruction was already ra.:^in.£i^ vhh a'i its furv iii tJte 
eireular pas a.e, wisieb tiie va, v^us and flauje | reverted 
bin from a^aifi enterij-;^'; he (hen went to the eastrni 
•lie in seaeh oi'his \ufe a; d «on ; th^n roMnd the wiiole 
bouse ; then iioiue ; aia»» ! his fears were lea.ized ; arid 
ah rentaining L« pes vnnis^* d. I§e is now left, lit^e so 
many others, ji cUseojisoJiHe n-ourrer ! 

Siichcircuiustanees eonUl be niultiplied, to fill a voUitne, 
by those who coniier ed wu the g;round aad lii tiic neigh* 
bori'»£i; houses al! thai iii.'ht. ba< thest* cases li/i ;;• nut «• 



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